Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points and sparked closing 9-0 run to help the Milwaukee Bucks rally to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 105-100 on Sunday for their fifth consecutive victory.
The Bucks won for the first time in 11 games this season when trailing after three quarters.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points and sparked closing 9-0 run to help the Milwaukee Bucks rally to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 105-100 on Sunday for their fifth consecutive victory.
After Leonard's jumper gave Los Angeles a 100-96 lead with 4:01 left, the Clippers didn't score again.
After trailing by seven points in the fourth quarter, the Bucks regained the lead 101-100 when Antetokounmpo made two free throws with 1:57 left.
The Clippers took a 81-77 lead into the fourth quarter after an 18-4 run that included 12 points from Serge Ibaka, who finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
TIP-INS
UP NEXT
LA Clippers' Serge Ibaka tries to shoot between Milwaukee Bucks' Donte DiVincenzo and Brook Lopez during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
LA Clippers' Patrick Beverley fouls Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and LA Clippers' Paul George battle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
Kawhi Leonard’s potential tying 3-point attempt bounced off the front rim with about four seconds left. Khris Middleton got the rebound and sealed it with two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining.
LA Clippers' Lou Williams looks to pass around Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
After Leonard's jumper gave Los Angeles a 100-96 lead with 4:01 left, the Clippers didn't score again.
Antetokounmpo has scored at least 35 points in four straight games. He’s the first Bucks player to do that since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from Jan. 6-14, 1973.
Middleton added 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists. Leonard scored 25 points to lead the Clippers.
Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis looks to pass around LA Clippers' Marcus Morris Sr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
After trailing by seven points in the fourth quarter, the Bucks regained the lead 101-100 when Antetokounmpo made two free throws with 1:57 left.
The Clippers had the ball with a chance to take the lead on three separate occasions after that but couldn’t convert. Paul George missed a contested layup with 1:35 remaining. Leonard missed a 3-point attempt with 1:05 left. George missed a 3-point try with about 44 seconds left.
Khris Middleton then found Antetokounmpo for a dunk to make it 103-100 with 10.3 seconds left. Antetokounmpo high-stepped up the court in celebration as the Clippers called a timeout.
LA Clippers' Kawhi Leonard tries to drive past Milwaukee Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
The Clippers took a 81-77 lead into the fourth quarter after an 18-4 run that included 12 points from Serge Ibaka, who finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
George had 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Clippers. Lou Williams added 14 points.
Middleton scored 19 points, Donte DiVincenzo had 11 and Brook Lopez added 10 for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo had 14 rebounds and five assists.
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo is fouled as he shoots against LA Clippers' Ivica Zubac during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
TIP-INS
Clippers: Leonard and George carried Los Angeles in the first half by scoring 30 of the Clippers' 48 points. They got much more help in the second half, particularly from Ibaka and Williams. But everything fell apart in the last four minutes.
Bucks: Jrue Holiday returned to action after missing 10 games due to the NBA's health and safety protocols, though he showed some signs of rust. Holiday came off the bench midway through the first quarter and finished with two points and three assists in 18 minutes. The Bucks went 5-5 in the games Holiday missed.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the LA ClippersSunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
UP NEXT
Clippers: At Boston on Tuesday night.
Bucks: Host Denver on Tuesday night.
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Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez kicks a ball thrown by LA Clippers' Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
LA Clippers' Serge Ibaka tries to shoot between Milwaukee Bucks' Donte DiVincenzo and Brook Lopez during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
LA Clippers' Patrick Beverley fouls Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and LA Clippers' Paul George battle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)