Giannis Antetokounmpo Powers Bucks To Comeback Victory Over Kings

The Milwaukee Bucks overcame a slow start and rallied from a 14-point deficit to defeat the Sacramento Kings 114-108 in a thrilling NBA matchup on Saturday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the charge for the Bucks with a dominant performance, scoring 32 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. His resounding play, particularly in the third quarter where he scored 22 points, proved pivotal for Milwaukee, allowing them to secure a crucial victory.

After trailing 25-17 at the end of the first quarter, the Bucks struggled to find their rhythm. They were down by as much as 14 points in the third quarter before their comeback began. The Kings, however, were not an easy opponent; they held a strong lead in the first half, with DeMar DeRozan scoring 22 points and Keon Ellis contributing 20 points, along with a career-high nine rebounds and six assists.

Brook Lopez also made a significant contribution for Milwaukee, adding 21 points to the scoreline, while Kevin Porter Jr. had 18 points off the bench and Taurean Prince chipped in with 15 points. Kyle Kuzma, another noteworthy performer for the Bucks, recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

The first half saw the Kings jump to an early 24-11 lead and ultimately take a 61-49 advantage into halftime, despite struggling from the three-point line, shooting just 4-of-20. Antetokounmpo had a rather quiet first half, scoring only nine points, but he ignited Milwaukee's comeback after halftime.

Milwaukee came alive in the second half, outscoring Sacramento 28-19 in the fourth quarter alone. The Kings were held scoreless during the final 4:24 of the game, after DeRozan put them ahead 108-107 with a jumper. Gary Trent Jr. was instrumental in the closing moments, hitting two critical three-pointers, including one to regain the lead at 100-97 with just under seven minutes remaining.

Sacramento's shooting woes in the closing minutes exacerbated their struggles; they missed several crucial shots that could have secured their lead, leading to their sixth defeat in eight games. They played without key players, including Malik Monk, who was scratched before the game due to illness.

Despite missing Damian Lillard for the Bucks due to a right calf injury for the second straight game, the team shot 52.4% from the field and 41.9% from beyond the arc, marking a solid shooting performance that complemented their comeback effort.

"The guys did a great job of fighting through adversity, especially in the second half," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer remarked following the victory. The Bucks improved their record to 40 wins and 30 losses with this win, while the Kings fell to 35 wins and 35 losses.

With the win, the Bucks also swept the season series against the Kings. They will next face the Phoenix Suns on Monday, while the Kings will host the Boston Celtics on the same day.