Giannis 48 points not enough as Bucks fall short 112-108 vs Rockets

On Saturday night, Alperen Sengun led the Houston Rockets to a 112-108 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s impressive 48-point performance. Antetokounmpo secured his seventh consecutive double-double with 17 rebounds but couldn’t prevent the Bucks from losing their third game in four outings in 2024, following an impressive 11-2 record in December.

Houston’s Jalen Green contributed 16 points, while Fred VanVleet had 14 points and seven assists, and Jabari Smith Jr. recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Damian Lillard struggled with his shooting, managing 18 points and nine assists, but missing a season-high three free throws on 10 attempts and shooting 5 for 16 from the field, including 1 for 8 from beyond the arc. Khris Middleton added 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting for the Bucks.

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The Rockets’ bench played a crucial role in the victory, with veteran reserve Jeff Green scoring a season-high 16 points, Cam Whitmore adding 12, and Aaron Holiday contributing 11. Despite missing Dillon Brooks, who remained sidelined for a sixth consecutive game due to a right abdominal oblique strain, the Rockets concluded a seven-game homestand with a 3-4 record, bringing their overall record to 18-16. They are now set for a six-game road stretch against Eastern Conference opponents.