Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks pull away from Grizzlies for 17th straight win

Matt Velazquez | Milwaukee

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MEMPHIS — In the bowels of FedEx Forum, Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer and his former assistant and right-hand man, Taylor Jenkins, shared a hug. They were less than 90 minutes away from going head-to-head against each other for the first time as equals — the first Bucks-Grizzlies game since Jenkins landed his first head coaching gig this offseason.

While the two men share a mutual love and admiration for one another, forged during their five years together in the San Antonio Spurs organization followed by Jenkins joining Budenholzer in Atlanta as an assistant coach six years ago, both had some extra motivation heading into Friday's game.

"Of course I want to beat him," Jenkins said. "I know he’s looking forward to kicking my butt, so I’m going to go in with that same mentality."

Jenkins' Grizzlies responded by pushing the Bucks in a way no team has during Milwaukee's 17-game win streak. Led by Jaren Jackson Jr.'s 43-point effort, including an unconscious 7-of-11 3-point shooting display in the third quarter, the Grizzlies led by double digits late in the third.

But the Bucks weathered that storm. They hadn't played well throughout the night, they lost point guard Eric Bledsoe to a right shin contusion in the third and trailed by five entering the fourth, but they dug deep to show why they have the best record in the NBA as they roared to a 127-114 victory over the final 12 minutes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo looked every part the reigning MVP during that fourth quarter. With 20 points already to his name, Antetokounmpo had still yet to hit full stride. He missed Wednesday's game with right quad tendon soreness, logged just 14 minutes in the first half and was hampered by four fouls in the third quarter.

In the fourth, though, the Greek Freak let loose. After a couple buckets by his running mate Khris Middleton to open the quarter and get the Bucks within one, Antetokounmpo got rolling. He made a jumper, then added a free throw, and after missing the second got the ball back and soared to the rim for a jam on Bruno Caboclo.

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"I thought he was fabulous," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said of the reigning MVP. "He makes at least one, maybe two 3s, finishing at the basket, and defensively, I think he is doing good things.

"So, he was just outstanding in the fourth quarter."

Down three with eight minutes left, the Bucks embarked on an 11-0 run. Middleton got it going with a jumper, Sterling Brown added a layup and then Middleton added a 3-pointer. Antetokounmpo then scored the Bucks' next 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, some free throws and an and-1.

By the time Antetokounmpo subbed out for good, he had 37 points — 17 in the fourth quarter — and 11 rebounds and the Bucks were up by a dozen. Antetokounmpo and Middleton, who had 26 points on the night, scored 26 of Milwaukee's 28 points in that 8½ minute stretch to open the fourth quarter.

The Bucks were never threatened again, but win No. 17 was far from a comfortable one. Now, the Bucks head home to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.

'We were able to keep our composure, stay together, play together and execute on offense, defend even harder," said Antetokounmpo. "It says a lot about this team. It says a lot about how good this team can be, and how good this team is."