Warriors shut down red-hot Bucks 125-90
Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr, center right, react to a Stephen Curry, center left, 3-pointer in 2nd quarter against Milwaukee Bucks during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.03.06 – Stephen Curry had 29 points, Jonathan Kuminga scored 20, and the Golden State Warriors ran away from Milwaukee for a 125-90 win on Wednesday night, handing the Bucks their first defeat since the All-Star break.
First, Draymond Green defended Giannis Antetokounmpo. Kuminga got a few chances then Golden State coach Steve Kerr turned to rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis for a stretch.
Jackson-Davis had studied the Bucks big man and his tendencies: how he “drives left and spins back right” then attacks the basket.
Back at full strength for the first time in months, Golden State gave Antetokounmpo all kinds of looks while showing off its depth and talented bench.
“He’s a great player he’s a load to guard. Props to our defense we tried to contain him,” Jackson-Davis said. “I’ve never faced anyone like him having the length like that.”
After trailing by 20 at halftime, Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard led a 19-5 run to start the third and get the Bucks back in it — but Curry, who also had eight rebounds and five assists, went to work again.
Jackson-Davis had 15 points along with four of Golden State’s season-high 13 blocked shots to match his own career high. Kuminga swatted another three.
2024.03.06 – Warriors vs. Bucks (NBA Video highlights)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry celebrates after hitting a 1st quarter 3-pointer against Milwaukee Bucks during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.03.06 – Warriors vs. Bucks (NBA Video highlights)
2024.03.06 – Warriors vs. Bucks (NBA Video highlights)
Antetokounmpo, who missed Monday night’s win at home against the Clippers because of left Achilles tendinitis, had 23 points and seven rebounds after he was questionable coming into the game.
“It takes a village to guard that guy and we needed everybody for sure,” Kerr said.
Lillard finished with 20 points with five 3-pointers and six assists in his first game back at Chase Center since being traded by the rival Trail Blazers to the Bucks last October. Bobby Portis also scored 20 for the Bucks.
Green had two late 3-pointers and wound up with 12 points while Klay Thompson contributed 10 points off the bench as the Warriors led 78-58 at halftime, their biggest lead at intermission this season.
Milwaukee had a league-best defensive rating since the All-Star break but was handed its first loss in that span after winning six in a row out of the break — holding opponents below 110 points during that stretch and under 100 in four of those contests.
“I really didn’t think this was our defense, I thought it was our offense,” coach Doc Rivers said. “I didn’t think we played solid offense all night.”
The Bucks missed a chance to tie their best winning streak of the season at seven, accomplished from Dec. 11-23. Milwaukee had won eight of 10 and beat the Warriors at home 129-118 on Jan 13.
2024.03.06 – Warriors vs. Bucks (NBC Sports Post Game)
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green defends Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo in 3rd quarter during NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.03.06 – Warriors vs. Bucks (NBC Sports Post Game)
2024.03.06 – Warriors vs. Bucks (NBC Sports Post Game)
Golden State started 11 for 16 with Curry hitting his first five shots with two 3s and the Warriors scored 40 points in the opening quarter for the second time this season, their ninth 40-point quarter overall. Their 15 points in the third matched a season low for any quarter.
Golden State outscored the Bucks 32-9 in the fourth.
The Bucks hadn’t been held to nine or fewer points in any quarter since scoring just eight in the first against Miami on Dec. 22, 2018 — and hadn’t been limited to nine or fewer in the final period since scoring nine against Toronto on Feb. 2, 2015, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
2024.03.06 – Warriors vs. Bucks (Locked On Post Game)
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Warriors and the Bucks at Chase Center in San Francisco on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle
2024.03.06 – Warriors vs. Bucks (Locked On Post Game)
2024.03.06 – Warriors vs. Bucks (Locked On Post Game)
The Warriors bounced back after losing 140-88 in Boston on Sunday with Curry going 2 of 13 and 0 for 9 on 3-pointers.
Golden State forward Andrew Wiggins returned from a four-game absence to deal with a family matter and played just 14 minutes as the Warriors won for the 14th time in 18 games.
During a second-quarter timeout the Warriors recognized former general manager Bob Myers as he worked the broadcast, with his three daughters taking part in the festivities.
UP NEXT
Bucks: Continue their four-game California trip against the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday night.
Warriors: Host Bulls on Thursday night to complete a home-home back-to-back.
Related – See : Warriors top Lakers in Curry’s return
Related – See below: 2022 Warriors NBA Finals video highlights
Read more at: Golden State Warriors Media Services / More AP NBA
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Golden State Warriors, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.
2022 Warriors NBA Finals video highlights