TORONTO (AP) – Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 10 assists and a season-high 21 rebounds for his second triple-double of the season, Grayson Allen hit a tiebreaking three-pointer with 11.6 seconds to go in overtime and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Toronto Raptors 104-101 on Wednesday.
Antetokounmpo, who scored a career-high 55 points on Tuesday against Washington, came in having posted at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in each of his past three games. The two-time MVP shot seven for 18 against Toronto, making one of three from three-point range and 15 of 21 at the free throw line.
“On a back-to-back, he used a lot of energy both last night and tonight,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “They (Toronto) are very physical. For him to find a way to get us over the top was huge.”
Milwaukee improved to 4-0 in the second game of a back-to-back.
“Obviously your body is tired,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s more mental than physical, just being about to go out there and get the job done on a back-to-back always feels good.”
The Bucks led 90-69 with 3:50 left in the fourth quarter, but Toronto cut it to 97-94 with 25 seconds to go before Milwaukee’s 26th turnover gave the Raptors the ball back, allowing Gary Trent Jr to hit a tying three with 0.8 seconds left. Antetokounmpo couldn’t convert an alley-oop at the buzzer.
“That was an experience, but a loss is a loss,” Toronto’s Fred VanVleet said of the back-and-forth game.
Antetokounmpo assisted on Allen’s clinching jump shot from the corner late in OT.
“It felt like it was a dart to Grayson,” Budenholzer said. “It hit him right in the shooting pocket. Big-time play, big-time pass.”
Allen praised Antetokounmpo for his precision pass. “He was driving and falling down with three people on him,” Allen said. “It was a pretty amazing pass to make that accurately. It made it an easy shot for me.”
VanVleet missed a three at the other end and Antetokounmpo grabbed his 21st rebound.Allen scored 16 points, Bobby Portis Jr had 14 points and 12 rebounds and Pat Connaughton scored 15 points for the Bucks.
VanVleet had 28 points and 12 assists, Trent scored 22 points and Scottie Barnes had 17 but the struggling Raptors lost for the sixth time in seven home games. Toronto has lost 10 of 13 overall.
“I think everybody’s well aware we’re going through a really difficult patch, maybe the most difficult patch we’ve been through,” coach Nick Nurse said.
