The Golden State Warriors kicked off their crucial eight-game homestand in style, toppling the Milwaukee Bucks 120-113 on Wednesday night at the Chase Center. In a contest that saw both teams trading blows and star players shining, it was Stephen Curry’s late-game heroics and a barrage of three-pointers that ultimately propelled the Warriors to their 20th win of the season, improving to 20-18 and keeping them in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.
From the opening tip, it was clear that this would be a high-octane affair. Both squads shot over 55% in the first quarter, and the scoreboard reflected the offensive fireworks with a 31-31 tie after twelve minutes. Giannis Antetokounmpo wasted no time making his presence felt, notching seven of the Bucks’ first eleven points with a blend of slashing drives, perimeter shooting, and mid-range touch. According to the game recap, “Giannis got going early, scoring seven of the Bucks’ first 11 points; he slashed for the dunk off the KPJ dime, nailed the wing triple, and then hit a mid-range pull-up.”
Yet, the Warriors were more than ready to answer. Stephen Curry, as dazzling as ever, poured in 31 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists, including a signature step-back three-pointer with just 26 seconds remaining that put the game out of reach. As reported by the Associated Press, “Stephen Curry had 31 points, highlighted by a step-back 3-pointer with 26 seconds left, and added seven assists and seven rebounds to help the Golden State Warriors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 120-113.”
The Bucks, riding a two-game win streak and coming off a comfortable victory in Sacramento, looked sharp in the early going. Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins helped keep the visitors in step with the Warriors’ offensive onslaught, and Milwaukee even surged ahead 19-13 in the opening moments, prompting a quick Golden State timeout. But the Warriors responded with a 7-0 run, powered by Curry’s brilliance. The first quarter ended with both teams knotted at 31, setting the stage for what many expected to be a back-and-forth battle.
The second quarter, however, proved decisive. The Warriors caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting five three-pointers in the first four minutes and racing out to a 46-35 lead. The Bucks’ offense sputtered, managing just two points in over three minutes. When Giannis returned to the floor, he managed to cut the deficit to three, but a late Golden State surge—fueled by turnovers and opportunistic scoring—sent the home team into halftime with a commanding 64-53 advantage. “The second quarter really killed the Bucks, as they were outscored 33-22 in the period,” noted one game analysis.
Tempers flared in the first half as well, with Draymond Green and Antetokounmpo engaging in several physical exchanges. At one point, Green fouled Giannis on a drive and later delivered a hard shove that went uncalled. The two stars shared a lengthy conversation during a stoppage, evidence of the competitive fire burning on both sides. According to the Bay Area News Group, “The two bigs had a long conversation in the second quarter after Green fouled the Greek superstar on a drive. Then, later in the quarter, Green gave his adversary a hard shove in the chest on a trip downcourt that was not called a foul.”
After halftime, Milwaukee came out swinging with an 8-0 run, led by Antetokounmpo’s relentless drives and some sharp execution from the supporting cast. But the Warriors quickly countered with an 11-4 spurt of their own, with Curry scoring 13 points in the third quarter alone. By the end of the period, Golden State had stretched its lead to 98-82—its largest of the night at 16 points. Newcomers De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford contributed in key moments, with Melton tallying a season-high 22 points off the bench and Horford grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out six assists in just 19 minutes.
Despite the deficit, the Bucks refused to roll over. Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis knocked down three-pointers early in the fourth quarter to keep Milwaukee within striking distance. Jimmy Butler, one of the Bucks’ recent additions, chipped in with 21 points and five rebounds, while Brandin Podziemski contributed six rebounds and four assists off the bench. Kevin Porter Jr. also added 15 points and nine assists, helping the Bucks claw back to within 10 points with just under five minutes to play.
But it was Draymond Green, often lauded for his defense rather than his scoring, who delivered a pair of backbreaking three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Green finished with 14 points and seven assists, and his defensive work on Giannis—while not enough to stop the Greek star from registering 34 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists—made Antetokounmpo work for every bucket. As the Mercury News highlighted, “While Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 34, Green made him work for most of those points.”
Al Horford, the 39-year-old veteran, showed he still had plenty left in the tank. Coming off a string of strong performances, Horford grabbed a season-high nine rebounds in the first half alone and finished with eight points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. “Horford showed he was unbothered by the time Wednesday rolled around,” the Mercury News observed, noting his defensive positioning and rebounding prowess.
Golden State’s depth was on display as well. With Gary Payton II sidelined by an ankle sprain, Brazilian forward Gui Santos made the most of his extended minutes, finishing +12 in just 18 minutes on the court. The Warriors also got key contributions from Melton, whose 22 points provided a much-needed scoring punch off the bench.
Off the court, Warriors coach Steve Kerr addressed his recent ejection in a pregame press conference, sharing a lighthearted anecdote about his mother’s reaction. “She looked horrified afterwards, and she asked me if I was going to hit the referee,” Kerr joked, according to the Bay Area News Group. “I said, ‘Mom, I’ve never hit anybody in my life …. She said ‘Why were all of those men holding you back?’ Well, that’s all part of the theatrics.’”
For the Bucks, the loss snapped a two-game win streak and continued a frustrating trend: Milwaukee has now lost six consecutive games on the Warriors’ home floor, a drought stretching back to January 8, 2020. The teams split their season series, with the Bucks having won at home earlier in the campaign.
Looking ahead, the Warriors will host the Sacramento Kings on Friday, eager to build momentum during this lengthy homestand. The Bucks, meanwhile, head to Los Angeles to face the Lakers, hoping to regroup and snap their Chase Center curse. If Wednesday night’s thriller is any indication, both teams have plenty of firepower and drama left to offer as the season heats up.
