Antetokounmpo gets 2nd triple-double of 2024, but Bucks lose again — this time to Jazz
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists but the Milwaukee Bucks, without Damian Lillard, lost 132-116 to the Utah Jazz — their fourth loss in five games.
Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen had 21 points apiece for the Jazz, who staved off a second-half rally to win their fifth game of six — they are 11-4 in their last 15.
Lillard, who averaging 25.1 points, was out for personal reasons. Khris Middleton added 23 points and Malik Beasley 17 for the Bucks.
“You’ve got to stay together, that’s it,” Antetokounmpo said. “If you try to go your way or do it yourself, it’s not going to work. We’ve been in this position before. It’s OK to be in this position … but then again, at the end of the day, we have to get better. We have to realize that we have keep on doing the little things.”
The Bucks, who trailed 77-46 at the half, scored 44 points in the third quarter to pull within 100-90 entering the final period.
The Jazz opened the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run, going in front 109-92 on a drive by Jordan Clarkson. Brook Lopez scored on a dunk to pull the Bucks within 111-103 with 6:52 remaining.
“We flipped it a little bit as far as our energy and effort, and we made it a ballgame, but you in the NBA you just can’t dig yourself in a hole like that,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said. “And then you’ve got to play extremely hard and exert a lot of energy just to try to get back into the game.”
The Jazz, who were 14 of 64 from 3-point range in their two previous games, hit 11 of 17 from beyond the arc in the first quarter en route to a 41-23 lead.
The Jazz hit 28 of 53 shots for 52.8%, including 16 of 30 from deep, and had five players score in double figures by halftime.
The Bucks opened the third quarter with a 15-4 run, pulling within 81-16 on a 3-point play by Antetokounmpo.
“I think the first possession, Lauri Markkanen had a 3 and after that, everything just went downhill,” Antetokounmpo said. “They had 11 in first quarter, 16 for the half. That’s a lot 3s, man, I’m not going to lie. We’ve got to do a better job of defending the 3. But at the end of the day, if you don’t defend the 3, don’t defend the drive, you don’t get rebounds … just got to find our identity.”
UP NEXT
Jazz: Host Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
Bucks: Host Boston Celtics on Thursday.
TOP PHOTO: FILE @Bucks on Twitter