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| The Greek Freak vs The Claw... |
Outpacing the Spurs 27-17 in the opening quarter, the Bucks looked good early as the Spurs stuttered yet again out of the starting gate, missing uncharacteristically eight of the team's twenty total free throws. Patty Mills never really got going, but he finally redeemed himself somewhat with a clutch 3PTer in OverTime as the Bucks sneaked away briefly with the lead. The Spurs fought back into a rhythm and won the second quarter 28-21, a scary moment coming after a fierce block on Antetokounmpo by Gasol that knocked him hard to the floor, the Spaniard receiving a technical foul for intimidatingly standing over the Greek Freak.
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| Giannis recovered from the nasty fall, but missed both free throws. |
The Bucks were cold from long range in this game, going 4/26. Khris Middleton hit a near-full court heave at the buzzer, however, after Patty Mills drove in for a layup and made the free throw after being hacked to give the Spurs a would-be 3PT game-winning advantage. The ball swished through the net, and Giannis roared into the extra period, finishing with 35 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists with 3 steals and 1 block.
Pau Gasol had the game of his season so far, roaring on his own for 26 points and 10 rebounds with 5 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks, showcasing his range from distance with a trio of long balls and coming through strongly at the free throw line. Stealing the ball on the Bucks second-last possession, Gasol drove in for the easy drop-off lay-in to secure the lead. Not to be outdone, Kawhi Leonard (whose perimeter shot was MIA in this game) poked the ball loose from Antetokounmpo's mighty hands and dunked it home to the approval of the Texas crowd, getting their moneys worth after another sensational home effort. The Spurs now move to 7-5 on the season, seemingly having their wits back after that harsh losing streak prior to this much-needed home stand.
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| Kawhi may have scored less, but his team got the W over Antetokounmpo. |
For the Bucks, Eric Bledsoe had 21 points and 7 assists, tapering off as the game went along. Brook Lopez, signed this summer, had a fabulous showing with 20 points, 20 rebounds and 7 blocks to go with 3 steals. Outside of those three, Milwaukee didn't get much help and it proved to be the difference as the Spurs found their 3PT stroke over time to finish with 11 as a team. The Spurs shot 50% to 47% by the Bucks overall. The Bucks set a league record for points in the paint with 70, just barely outreaching the Spurs' 68. San Antonio led 26-16 in fast break success and their bench killed Milwaukee, 47-21. Milwaukee won the glass, 60-51. Both teams combined for 21 steals and 19 blocks (24 turnovers overall).
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| Pau Gasol came alive for this big-moment game. |
A clutch steal by Avery Bradley and some impressive 3PT prowess pushed the needle for the Spurs as they nearly held off the Bucks in regulation, hitting the layup down low and making the free throw, finishing with 11 points and 6 assists with 2 steals. Kawhi Leonard had 31 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Joakim Noah streaked down the court with Mills and Murray (8 points, 7 assists) for 12 points and 14 rebounds, scoring inside with the game up for grabs as regulation dwindled to a close. Noah also had 1 block and 1 steal. Rudy Gay had 6 points, as did Kyle O'Quinn. Bryn Forbes hasn't quite found his deadeye this season, but his one from deep and made a nice layup early.
It was Kawhi's slam past Giannis to give the Spurs the 103-107 with a minute left in OT, then Giannis dunking through the smaller Mills, before Avery Bradley's steal stalled the seemingly unstoppable streak of the Greek Freak, singlehandedly keeping the Bucks in the contest.