Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s triple-double, Corey Kispert scored 27 points and Deni Avdija added 23 as the Washingtоn Wizards defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 117-113 on Tuesday night.

By the end of the third quarter, Antetokounmpo had double figures in all three categories with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. Milwaukee, which had a 2 1/2-game advantage over Cleveland for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference going into the game, found that insufficient.

For Washingtоn, Jared Butler scored 17 points off the bench to support Jordan Poole, who finished with 16 points and a career-high 13 assists. The Wizards signed 7-foot youngster from Serbia, Tristan Vukcevic, in the middle of last month, and he scored 14. Six was his prior career high.

After leading 58–54 at the half, Washingtоn went on a 12-run in the third quarter to increase their lead to 15. Throughout the game, Milwaukee made 11 of 48 3-pointers, but the Bucks eventually made a few in the closing minutes of the third, highlighted by a basket by Jae Crowder at the buzzer that trimmed the advantage to five.

In the fourth, it was down to two, but Washingtоn managed to hang on. Kispert’s three-pointer put Milwaukee ahead 113-106, and in the closing seconds, Antetokounmpo gave up the ball inside.

Regaining possession, the Bucks requested a timeout with 21.9 seconds left. With 8.3 seconds remaining, Khris Middleton made a layup, but Anthony Gill broke loose behind Milwaukee’s defense to restore the advantage to four points.

Star guard Damian Lillard (right groin strain) was not available for Milwaukee, and Kyle Kuzma (right heel contusion) was not available for the Wizards. Doc Rivers, the coach of the Bucks, stated that Lillard might return as soon as Wednesday night.

Patrick Beverley was lost by the Bucks in the third quarter following a slip by Poole, who collided with Beverley’s left leg while driving to the basket. Despite being shaken up, Poole was able to continue playing.