Milwaukee’s best: Antetokounmpo sits, but Middleton and Bledsoe lead Bucks over Kings
The Kings again demonstrated how far they have come in recent weeks, but the Milwaukee Bucks continue to prove why they have the best record in the NBA.
Khris Middleton had 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to help the Bucks beat the Kings 123-111 on Monday night at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Eric Bledsoe posted 28 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks (46-7), who won despite the absence of reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Harrison Barnes scored a team-high 23 points for the Kings (21-32), who had won six of their last eight games. De’Aaron Fox had 17 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
Fox finished 5 of 19 from the field but he got to the foul line several times, converting 5 of 7 free-throw opportunities.
“I thought (Fox’s) aggressiveness was awesome tonight,” Kings coach Luke Walton said. “I thought he was attacking. I think most nights he will make more of those. His overall drive to get into the paint and put pressure on them was really good.”
The Kings started slowly and trailed 38-24 at the end of the first quarter. The Bucks shot 51.6 percent from the field and knocked down 5 of 12 from 3-point range in the opening period while the Kings missed eight of their first nine from beyond the arc.
Sacramento closed the gap early in the second quarter and continued to battle back. The Kings got within five on a 3-pointer by Barnes, cut the deficit to three on a 3-pointer by Hield and carried a 58-57 lead into the halftime break.
The third quarter featured six ties and six lead changes. The Kings led 90-88 at the end of the third, but the Bucks took control after starting the fourth quarter with a 12-0 run.
Milwaukee shot 44.8 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range. Sacramento was held to 41.6-percent shooting from the field and 32.6-percent shooting from beyond the arc.
“They made shots and we didn’t make shots,” said Kings guard Buddy Hield, who had 15 points and seven rebounds. “That was the game. They’re a good team. They’re very balanced. They have a really good system with (Bledsoe) leading the charge tonight and (Middleton). (Antetokounmpo) was out but those guys were able to get going.”
Bundle of joy
Antetokounmpo was unavailable for the Bucks after welcoming his first child into the world earlier in the day. Antetokounmpo shared the news on Twitter, posting a photo of his newborn son.
“He’s being a good father,” Walton said. “It’s most important to be a good father, so I’m proud of him for making that decision.”
The Kings held Antetokounmpo to 13 points in a 127-106 loss to the Bucks on Jan. 10 in Sacramento. Walton noted Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe combined for 51 points in that contest. Walton also pointed out the Bucks scored 151 points in a win over the Washington Wizards without Antetokounmpo on Jan. 28.
“Middleton went for 51 and Bledsoe had 30-something, and those are the two guys who crushed us last time we played Milwaukee,” Walton said.
Holmes out through All-Star break
Walton said center Richaun Holmes did not accompany the team to Milwaukee and will not join the Kings in Dallas on Wednesday. Holmes has missed the past 16 games with a shoulder injury. Walton said Holmes will not return until after the All-Star break.
Holmes is averaging career highs of 13.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots during a breakout season with the Kings. He has not played since injuring his shoulder against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 6.
Parker nearing debut
Jabari Parker could be getting close to making his Kings debut, but he didn’t get to play against his former team Monday night in Milwaukee.
Parker is recovering from a right shoulder impingement that caused him to miss 20 of his last 21 games with the Atlanta Hawks. Walton explained that Parker hasn’t had much time to practice with the team since the Kings acquired him on the eve of the trade deadline.
“He really wants to play and I love that,” Walton said. “It’s unfortunate. He got traded to us, we had a back-to-back, he’s coming off injuries and then we flew across the country, so he was in the gym again this morning playing 2-on-2. We’ll get a practice day in Dallas and see how that goes and maybe get him out there in that Dallas game.”
All-American
Barnes was one of 44 players named as finalists for the 2020 U.S. Olympic team on Monday. The official 12-man roster will be unveiled later this year.
Barnes won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Now in his eighth NBA season, he is averaging 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Kings. He is shooting 45 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from 3-point range.
Injury report
Kings: OUT — Richaun Holmes (shoulder); Marvin Bagley III (foot); Alex Len (hip); Jabari Parker (shoulder).
Bucks: OUT — Giannis Antetokounmpo (personal); George Hill (hamstring).
Kings upcoming schedule
Feb. 12 at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 20 vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.
Feb. 22 at Los Angeles Clippers, 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 25 at Golden State, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 27 at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m.
This story was originally published February 10, 2020 at 7:24 PM.
