DeMar DeRozan on Monday had 25 points and the San Antonio Spurs had a season-high 19 three-pointers to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 126-104, snapping the Bucks’ five-game winning streak.
“It’s big — confidence building,” DeRozan said. “Letting us know we could compete with the best teams in this league.”
The Spurs finished 19-for-35 on three-pointers in handing the Bucks their largest defeat of the season.
Patty Mills added 21 points, including being six-for-10 on three-pointers. LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay added 18 points each, going a combined four-for-five on three-pointers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks, while Donte DiVincenzo added 16 points.
Four games after setting a season-high with 18 three-pointers against the Detroit Pistons, the Spurs bested that mark when Gay hit the team’s 19th three-pointer against the Bucks.
Aldridge has been crucial in that run, going 16-for-23 on three-pointers in his past five games.
“With LaMarcus joining us on the three-point line and having the ability to knock them down, it does wonders in terms of spacing,” Mills said.
Aldridge has shot so well on three-pointers that the Bucks almost overlooked DeRozan’s mid-range game.
The Bucks, whose last loss was on Dec. 25 at Philadelphia, maintain the league’s best record at 32-6.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich somewhat agreed when asked if this was the Spurs’ most complete game of the season.
“It’d be hard to argue against that, I think,” he said. “The physicality was good. We started out the third quarter a little poorly as we have ... but I thought we were more consistent tonight in our physicality and executing game plan. We were more consistent. It was a good night.”
On Saturday, the Bucks defeated the Spurs 127-118 at home, but could not maintain their early momentum in rare back-to-back games at home.
The Bucks opened the game with three straight three-pointers, but the Spurs went on a 13-4 run in taking their first lead at 15-13.
DeRozan blocked an Antetokounmpo layup during the run, tying up the 210.82cm forward as he drove through the lane and forcing a jump ball.
Seven players would score in the first quarter for the Spurs, including nine points by DeRozan.
The Spurs followed that up with 38 points in the second quarter, their highest total in that quarter all season and third-highest in any quarter.
The Spurs were 12-for-20 on three-pointers in the first half in building an 18-point lead and tying a franchise record for the most three-pointers in any half.
Also on Monday, it was:
‧ Mavericks 118, Bulls 110
‧ Nuggets 123, Hawks 115
‧ 76ers 120, Thunder 113
‧ Jazz 128, Pelicans 126
‧ Pacers 115, Hornets 104
‧ Wizards 99, Celtics 94
‧ Magic 101, Nets 89
‧ Kings 111, Warriors 98
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