The Sports Xchange
Dec 1, 2017
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Khris Middleton scored 26 points and Eric Bledsoe added 25 as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 103-91 Thursday night at Moda Center.
Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots for the Bucks (11-9).
Jusuf Nurkic collected 25 points and 11 rebounds and Damian Lillard had 18 points, seven boards and seven assists for the Trail Blazers (13-9), who saw their three-game win streak end.
Bledsoe scored 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting to lead Milwaukee to a 60-45 halftime edge. Middleton added 14 and Antetokounmpo 10 for the Bucks, who shot 57.4 percent from the field before halftime.
The Bucks extended their advantage to 71-49 early in the third quarter, and kept it going, upping the difference to 83-59 late in the quarter. It was 87-66 heading into the final period.
Milwaukee increased the difference to 92-68 early in the fourth quarter. Portland responded with an 11-0 run to close to within 92-79 with 6:54 left. But the Blazers got no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
The Bucks made five of their first seven shots from the field to take a 14-8 lead. Nurkic had 12 points and seven rebounds in the first eight minutes, but the Bucks still led 26-19. Middleton banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Milwaukee a 33-21 advantage after one quarter.
Portland opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run to draw within 33-31. Milwaukee answered with an 13-2 spurt to go ahead 46-33. The Bucks were in front by 15 points at the half.
NOTES: The Bucks ended their four-game road trip 3-1. ... Portland F Al-Farouq Aminu (ankle) saw action after missing the previous 13 games. He totaled six points and five rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench... Portland G CJ McCollum missed his first seven shots from the field. He finished with 15 points on 7-of-20 shooting. ... In his 10 games with Milwaukee since his acquisition from Phoenix, G Eric Bledsoe has scored in double figures nine times. ... Portland entered the game ranked No. 3 in the NBA in rebounding percentage. Milwaukee was 28th. The Blazers won the board battle 40-30 Thursday night.