LOS ANGELS, United States (AFP) — The Milwaukee Bucks gave their NBA playoff push another boost on Sunday, fighting off a furious fourth-quarter San Antonio Spurs’ rally to hold on for a 106-103 win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from injury to score 25 points for the Bucks, who almost blew a 15-point lead with eight minutes to go.
The Spurs stormed back to get within three points, with less than a minute left on the clock, but couldn’t get any closer.
The Bucks are in the eighth and final playoff spot in the East with nine games remaining in the regular season.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored a game-high 34 points for the Spurs, who had their six-game winning streak halted in front of a crowd of 18,700 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
Greece’s Antetokounmpo looked impressive in his return from a sprained right ankle as he added 10 rebounds to pick up his 37th double-double of the season.
Aldridge got help from Pau Gasol who tallied 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting and had 13 rebounds.
Gasol made a putback as San Antonio closed to within three points with 35 seconds to go.
Eric Bledsoe missed a three-pointer on the other end for the Bucks and the Spurs sprinted back to attempt one final bucket.
But Dejounte Murray’s three-point attempt from the right side with just three seconds left was blocked by Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton.
The Spurs had fallen apart in allowing 41 points in the third quarter — the most they’ve surrendered in a period this season.
© Agence France-Presse
