Antetokounmpo Scores 46, Bucks Overcome Kings in Ill Tempered Duel

• The Milwaukee Bucks inched closer to clinching a playoff spot by beating the Sacramento Kings 133-124
• Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 of his 46 points in the third quarter
• The defeat saw the Kings drop to third in the Western Conference

The Milwaukee Bucks bounced back from their overtime defeat to the Golden State Warriors by beating the surging Sacramento Kings 133-124.

MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 46 points to help the Bucks move closer to securing a playoff spot.

The hosts, who secured their first 40-win season since 2005/06, led by double digits for much of the first half, but Antetokounmpo's explosive 19-point third quarter put the Kings to bed. He also finished with 12 rebounds.

Khris Middleton scored 31 points, and Brook Lopez added 23 for the visitors.

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All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox led the hosts with 35 points, while Kevin Huerter scored 17 of his 28 in the fourth quarter.

Domantas Sabonis finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists for his 10th triple-double of the season. The big man now has a franchise-record 54 double-doubles, which leads the NBA.

Tempers flared late in the fourth quarter after Bucks center Brook Lopez and Kings' Trey Lyles squared off after the Kings forward appeared to push Antetokounmpo with 15:6 seconds remaining, per ESPN.

Both players were ejected from the game.

Reactions from Kings vs. Bucks

After the game, Antetokounmpo was asked about the foul that led to the scuffle via the Athletic.

"I Don't know. I'm Just trying to play the game. I didn't understand what happened. I felt it. They told me that he pushed me in my back.

Lopez said he will protect his teammate from any opponent.

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"I'm just going to be there to protect my guy.and whoever it is know that I have his back and that's not going to fly."

Kings coach Mike Brown had a defiant message to any team that wanted to test his side.

"I don't know what happened, but ain't taking no (expletive) from nobody," Brown said. "Trust me on that. And they're all going to have each other's backs in there."

Kings win 40th game of the season

Sports Brief earlier reported on the Kings winning their 40th game in the 2022/23 season for the first time since 2005/2006.

In the 2005/06 season, the Kings finished with a 44-38, clinching the eighth seed.

Mike Brown also made history, becoming the second Sacramento Kings’ coach to win at least 40 games in an NBA season.