Milwaukee Bucks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Match Player Stats On Dec 29, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 29, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Giannis Antetokounmpo's baseline layup with nine-tenths of a second left gave the Milwaukee Bucks a 97-95 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Antetokounmpo appeared to step on the baseline as he made his move toward the basket, but the play was not reviewable and the game ended as Russell Westbrook's desperation heave fell short.

After the buzzer, Oklahoma City's Carmelo Anthony argued with officials at length, pointing to the video board, which showed the play, then zeroed in on Antetokounmpo's foot.

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks (19-15) with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Khris Middleton added 20 points, John Henson had 18 and Tony Snell 15 as the Bucks won their second consecutive game.

Just a few seconds before the game-winning basket, Westbrook drilled a long 3-pointer to tie the game for the first time since the game was scoreless.

Westbrook finished with 40 points and 14 rebounds. Anthony and Jerami Grant added 12 points each for the Thunder (20-16).

The Thunder had a chance to tie it earlier in the final minute, but Westbrook's 3-pointer missed the mark and Milwaukee responded with a 21-foot jump shot by Eric Bledsoe to stretch the lead to five points. Westbrook then hit a bucket to reduce the margin to three points before tying it with his 3-point shot.

Westbrook's missed 3-pointer was far from the only chance the Thunder had to get closer in the final few minutes.

With 2:36 remaining, Oklahoma City's Raymond Felton was fouled shooting a 3-pointer with the Bucks up six. Felton made the first then missed the other two free throws.

With 1:07 to go, Anthony was called for a lane violation on Steven Adams' free throw.

Oklahoma City trailed by as many as 22 points and was shooting for the biggest comeback in team history.

The Bucks were blistering early, scoring 38 points in the first quarter to build a lead.

Milwaukee was 14 of 23 from the field in the opening 12 minutes, hitting five 3-pointers. Oklahoma City, on the other hand, shot just 35 percent from the floor in the opening quarter and hit just one 3-pointer.

But from that point on, though, things became more difficult for the Bucks.

NOTES: Thunder F Paul George missed the game with left knee soreness. It was the third game George has missed this season. With George out, Alex Abrines made his fifth start of the season. ... After not playing until late in the first half a day earlier against Minnesota, Milwaukee G Malcolm Brogdon came into the game midway through the first quarter against the Thunder. ... Oklahoma City PG Russell Westbrook eclipsed the 16,000-point mark for his career in the first quarter. Westbrook passed Rasheed Wallace and Derek Harper for 105th on the NBA's career scoring list. ... Milwaukee F Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his Eastern Conference-best 16th 20-point, 10-rebound performance.