The Milwaukee Bucks’ prolific first half and stellar offensive efforts from Kyle Korver and Brook Lopez helped them to a 131-123 victory over the Sacramento Kings in an NBA restart scrimmage in Orlando on Saturday afternoon.
The Bucks (53-12 current regular-season record) and Kings (28-36 current regular-season record) engaged in a spirited opening period that Milwaukee emerged from with a 38-33 advantage. The Eastern Conference pacesetters were then able to separate heading into halftime with a 42-point second period, but Sacramento made it interesting by outscoring their opponents, 63-51, in the second half. Milwaukee led by as much as 29 points at one stage of the contest and won the rebounding battle by a 54-42 margin.
Korver led the way for the Bucks with 22 points, a total he complemented with six rebounds. Lopez followed with 21 points, adding four rebounds, five blocks and two steals. Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered 15 points, nine boards, six assists and one block. Donte DiVincenzo drew the start at point guard and finished with 13 points, three rebounds, one assist and three steals. Khris Middleton posted an efficient 11 points, seven rebounds and two assists in just 15 minutes.
Buddy Hield paced the Kings with 19 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Kent Bazemore turned in 16 points, eight boards, three assists and one block. Bogdan Bogdanovic managed 13 points, three assists, one rebound and two steals. Corey Brewer collected 12 points, five boards, one assist and one steal. Nemanja Bjelica compiled 11 points, four rebounds and one assist. Cory Joseph and DaQuan Jeffries generated matching 10-point tallies, with Jeffries also registering six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.
Both teams return to the floor Monday, with the Bucks closing out the day’s schedule in an evening matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans and the Kings facing the Los Angeles Clippers earlier that afternoon.
