Jimmy Butler III scored a game-high 24 points, Brandin Podziemski returned from an injury to hit two key late three-pointers, and the host Golden State Warriors, playing without Stephen Curry, held off the Milwaukee Bucks 104-93 on Tuesday, March 18 (Wednesday, March 19, Manila time).
With Curry resting his 36-year-old back and knees, Golden State (40-29) rebounded from a home loss to the Denver Nuggets one night earlier to win for a 15th win in 18 games since acquiring Butler from the Miami Heat.
Kyle Kuzma had a team-high 22 points for the Bucks (38-30), who could not overcome off shooting nights by Giannis Antetokounmpo (5-for-16, 20 points) and Damian Lillard (6-for-18, 16 points).
After seeing what was once a 17-point lead disappear in the third quarter, the Warriors went in front for good by scoring the period’s last 8 points. Buddy Hield sank a 26-footer three-pointer, Jonathan Kuminga made two foul shots, and Butler, fouled on a three-point attempt with 1.5 seconds left, nailed three free throws for a 78-76 advantage.
Golden State continued the run to open the fourth quarter when Butler turned a jumper into a three-point play and added a 10-footer before Hield buried another three-pointer, putting the Warriors up 86-76.
The Bucks, who were opening a five-game Western swing, managed to get within 96-93 on a pair of Antetokounmpo free throws with four minutes left. But after a scoreless 101 seconds, Podziemski bombed in his two critical three-pointers, sandwiching a Gary Payton II floater, putting Golden State in command.
Butler did almost half his scoring at the free-throw line, going 11-for-11. He also found time for a game-high 10 assists and 8 rebounds.
Podziemski, who had missed the previous five games with a back injury, hit 6 of his 10 shots overall and 4 of his 7 three-point attempts on a 17-point night. He also had 7 rebounds.
Hield finished with 15 points, Quinten Post 14, and Kuminga 10 for the Warriors. Draymond Green, the driving force in the club’s defensive game plan against Antetokounmpo, chipped in with a game-high 10 rebounds to go with 4 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals, and 3 points.
Antetokounmpo, who did half his scoring by going 10-for-15 at the line, paced the Bucks with 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.
Brook Lopez had 16 points and Gary Trent Jr. 10 for the Bucks, who were swept in the two-game season series by Golden State for the first time since 2016-17. – Rappler.com