Antetokounmpo gets triple-double as Bucks beat Cavs 126-116 in 1st game since Griffin was fired

Following coach Adrian Griffin’s dismissal, the Milwaukee Bucks responded with a 126-116 victory on Wednesday night that ended the Cleveland Cavaliers’ eight-game winning run. Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his third triple-double in the previous four games.

Có thể là hình ảnh về bóng rổ, áo bóng rổ và văn bản cho biết 'PLAYER OF THE GAME Giannis Antetokounmpo 34 MILMAUKEE MIL WAUKEE M 35 PTS 18 REB 10 AST 2 BLK POTAWATOMI CASINOTOE AU AME A'

For his sixth triple-double of the year, Antetokounmpo scored 35 points, pulled down 18 rebounds, matching a season record, and dished out 10 assists. After scoring 31 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists in a 141-135 victory against Detroit on Saturday, Antetokounmpo is only one assist away from achieving four consecutive triple-doubles.

Griffin had a 30-13 record in his one season as coach, but he was sacked on Tuesday. On Wednesday, assistant to Griffin, Joe Prunty, led the Bucks in a temporary capacity while they concluded talks with Doc Rivers for Rivers’ eventual takeover.

Although Milwaukee had the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, they weren’t playing defense nearly as effectively as they had under Mike Budenholzer’s predecessor.

A week earlier, when Antetokounmpo was out due to an injured right shoulder, the Bucks suffered their most lopsided loss of the season, a 135-95 thumping at Cleveland, under Griffin’s 43-game tenure.

Có thể là hình ảnh về 1 người, đang chơi bóng rổ, đám đông và văn bản cho biết 'BE RUKER 34 35 PTS, 18 REB, 10 AST 31 PTS, 17 REB, 10 AST ਨੈ 31 PTS, 10 REB, 9 AST 27 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST'

While chilly the NBA’s hottest team on Wednesday, Milwaukee looked far superior.

The Cavaliers never led in this game, despite having won three straight wire-to-wire and trailing for only 35 seconds in their previous five games.

The Cavaliers were down 103-87 with nine minutes remaining, having fallen behind by as much as 21 points in the third quarter. However, with 3:44 remaining, they were only behind by six points. With a dunk in response, Antetokounmpo ignited a 6-1 run that extended the Bucks’ lead.

Có thể là hình ảnh về 4 người, mọi người đang chơi bóng rổ, áo bóng rổ và đám đông

For the Bucks, Damian Lillard scored 28 points, while Khris Middleton chipped in with 24.

For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, while Jarrett Allen chipped in with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Max Strus and Georges Niang each had 14 points, Sam Merrill had 12 and Isaac Okoro had 10.

Prunty is serving as an NBA interim coach for the third time.

In addition to coaching the Bucks during their first-round, seven-game playoff defeat to the Boston Celtics after Jason Kidd’s midseason termination, Prunty finished 21-16 with Milwaukee in 2017–18. Before Quin Snyder was hired by the Hawks and after Nate McMillan was dismissed, he was 2-0 with Atlanta in the previous season.

Có thể là hình ảnh về 4 người, mọi người đang chơi bóng rổ và đám đông

Cleveland was participating in its first game after backup center Tristan Thоmpsоn was suspended fоr 25 games fоr testing pоsitive fоr SARM LGD-4033 and ibutamоren in viоlatiоn оf the NBA’s anti-Ԁrug pоlicy.