MILWAUKEE (AP) — For the eighth consecutive game, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 or more points — a career best — as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Sacramento Kings 126-113 on Wednesday night.
Antetokounmpo hit 12 of 19 shots and 9 of 10 free throws in scoring 35.
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Over his past eight games, the 28-year-old forward is averaging 36 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists, while shooting 60.4 percent from the field. Milwaukee is 6-2 in those games, losing in a 40-point effort against the LA Lakers and when he scored 36 against the Chicago Bulls.
It was the Bucks’ 13th consecutive victory over the Kings. The streak is Milwaukee’s longest active streak against an opponent. The Bucks have won 12 straight against Orlando.
Brook Lopez had 17 points and nine rebounds and Khris Middleton added 14 points for the Bucks. They won their third straight to improve to 18-6, including 12-3 at home.
Sacramento, which scored 61 points in the first half, managed just 19 in the fourth quarter.
Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings, who had won their last three. Harrison Barnes had 20 points, and Malik Monk added 16.
Davion Mitchell’s layup brought the Kings to 99-98 early in the fourth quarter, but the Bucks pushed it the back to 109-101 on a 3-pointer by Grayson Allen with 7:14 remaining.
“I think one of the things that stands out to me is a little bit of the ball movement and really kind of, like, back-breaker 3-pointers,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Sacramento, they’re working defensively, they’re rotating, they’re scrambling – when you’re able to make that extra drive, that extra kick and somebody makes a three kind of deep in the shot clock, that stood out to me.”
Antetokounmpo scored on consecutive drives to put the Bucks up 117-105 with 4:40 left.
“I like the way he’s playing with his teammates, the way he’s sharing it, the way he’s passing it,” Budenholzer said. “Organically, it comes back to him playing a litlte bit more off the ball, a lot of DHO’s (dribble handoffs) and stuff like that. He’s getting points, but I think he’s playing the right way and just taking what the game gives him and playing with his teammates.”
TOP PHOTO: Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and Sacramento Kings’ Keegan Murray go after a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)