MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks made positive coach Mike Budenholzer had a straightforward first night time again on the job.
Antetokounmpo had 30 factors, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to assist Milwaukee rout the Golden State Warriors 118-99 on Thursday night time in Budenholzer’s return from the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols. Antetokounmpo had his third triple-double of the season and twenty eighth of his profession.
Budenholzer missed 4 video games whereas within the well being and security protocols, with assistant Darvin Ham taking up as performing head coach. The Bucks went 1-3.
“I feel Coach Darvin did an ideal job stepping up, main the staff, teaching the staff and retaining us accountable,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “However, clearly, it’s nice to have Coach Bud again wholesome, comfortable and getting us able to go.”
Khris Middleton added 23 factors, Bobby Portis 20 and Grayson Allen 15 for the Bucks.
Milwaukee by no means trailed whereas racing to a 77-38 halftime benefit and handing the Warriors their fourth loss in 5 video games. Antetokounmpo had 23 factors, seven rebounds and 7 assists within the first half.
“I feel there was focus from us tonight,” Budenholzer mentioned. “I feel when it begins on the defensive finish, often that’s after we’re at our greatest. A staff just like the Warriors, a participant like (Stephen) Curry and (Klay) Thompson, they bring about out one of the best in you. They convey out the best focus.”
The Bucks had been simply two factors shy of their largest halftime lead in franchise historical past, a document they set this season. Milwaukee led 77-36 on the half in a 123-92 victory over Orlando on Nov. 22.
“We simply bought off to a horrible begin the place all the pieces went mistaken on each ends of the ground,” Curry mentioned.
The Warriors didn’t have Draymond Inexperienced because of left calf tightness, which additionally stored him out of a loss at Memphis on Tuesday night time and brought on him to play lower than a minute Sunday in a victory over Cleveland.
Milwaukee was lacking guard Jrue Vacation for a fourth straight recreation. Vacation sat out a Jan. 2 victory at Brooklyn whereas within the NBA’s well being and security protocols and has since sat out three video games with a sore left ankle.
Golden State outplayed the Bucks within the second half and decreased the deficit to 18 on Juan Toscano-Anderson’s 3-pointer with 9:39 left, however that’s as shut because the Warriors would get.
“I do know we simply bought our butts kicked, however we’re simply in a tough patch in our season,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned. “It occurs to each staff, yearly just about with only a few exceptions. We’re in just a little little bit of a rut and we had been enjoying a staff that was prepared and performed an ideal, nice first half. We’re just a little out of kinds. We’ve simply bought to get again on observe, and we'll.”
Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors with 16 factors. Jonathan Kuminga had 15, Curry 12 and Thompson 11.
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