Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Bucks past short-handed Grizzlies

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Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and 15 rebounds, and Khris Middleton scored 27 to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 126-114 victory over the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

Memphis, which had won 12 of 13, was without two of its leading scorers in Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane. Brooks, averaging 18.4 points per game, sat out with a left ankle sprain, while Bane (17.7 ppg) was in the NBA’s health and safety protocol.

Ja Morant had 33 points and 14 assists, and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 29 for Memphis in the opener of a four-game road swing. Without Bane, sixth in the NBA with 131 3-pointers, the Grizzlies were just 9 of 40 beyond the arc.

Morant capped a seven-point run with a drive down the lane to pull the Grizzlies to 114-111 with 2:32 left, but George Hill hit two free throws and Antetokounmpo scored six straight to make it 122-111.

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Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to get past Memphis Grizzlies' Santi Aldama during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

"I think just his ability to do it different ways," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said about Antetokounmpo. "I think also including he’s getting to the line, he’s making free throws. His ability to kind of get to his spots in the post with a variety of moves ... and then I think of him as a playmaker, as a passer. That’s what makes him special. We’re fortunate to have him."

Hill and Bobby Portis each scored 14 points for Milwaukee, which had dropped six of eight.

Memphis pulled within 96-89 to open the fourth quarter, but De’Anthony Melton missed