The Bucks appeared to be cruising to another win with a commanding 110-90 lead in the fourth. But Ball and Miller had other plans. The Hornets’ duo went berserk, erupting for 29 points against 11 for the Bucks, bringing the margin down to just 2. However, the Milwaukee Bucks (8-9) hung on for dear life, escaping with a 125-119 finish against the Charlotte Hornets (6-10) on November 24.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was uncontainable, dropping 32 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Damian Lillard matched his intensity, pouring in 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Brook Lopez tallied 13 points, 8 rebounds,s and 3 blocks while Gary Trent Jr. scored 16, hitting 4-of-5 from distance. The Bucks torched the Hornets from three-point territory, sinking 18-of-37 attempts to secure their fourth straight win.
LaMelo Ball stole the show, scoring a career-high 50 points, including an explosive 38 points in the second half, along with 5 rebounds and 10 assists. Brandon Miller added 32 points and 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Hornets’ slump, as they suffered their fifth loss in their last seven games.
Lillard and Antetokounmpo Outduels Ball and Miller
The Bucks surged ahead with an 8-0 lead, but Charlotte found their rhythm from beyond the arc and quickly evened things up. Lillard came out hot in the second, scoring 9 quick points to put his team back in front (39-32). Milwaukee continued to pour it on, but Ball and Miller kept the Hornets in the fight. They trailed by 8 at halftime.
The third was a seesaw battle, with both sides going on runs. Lopez knocked down 2 threes to help the Bucks maintain their control. But Ball took charge, scoring 8 quick points to pull the Hornets within 2. Antetokounmpo responded with 3 straight baskets to put his team up (84-76). Milwaukee then hit 4-straight threes to push their lead to 13 points. The momentum endured for the Bucks early in the fourth with a 14-5 run that helped them build their largest lead of the game.
The Bucks resume NBA Cup action against the Heat on Wednesday, while the Hornets host the Magic on Tuesday.
