https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Giannis-Bucks-too-much-for-Spurs-14950476.php
Giannis, Bucks too much for Spurs
By Nick Talbot
Updated 10:08 pm CST, Saturday, January 4, 2020
The Spurs are fighting for a Western Conference playoff spot. The schedule, though, isn't doing them any favors.
After a loss to surging Oklahoma City on Thursday, the Spurs were tasked with a Saturday night game against Milwaukee, which has the best record in the NBA.
It went as well as could be expected as the Spurs fell to the Bucks 127-118 at the Fiserv Forum. Defending NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 32 points, including 19 in the third quarter.
The Spurs (14-20) led 31-29 after the first quarter, but quickly got into a shootout against the Bucks (32-5), not ideal against the third-ranked offense in the NBA. The Bucks led 71-66 at the half.
The Bucks also have the top-ranked defense, and it caught up to the Spurs. They scored just 25 in the third quarter as Milwaukee began to pull away.
Lonnie Walker IV got the first start of his career against the Bucks, scoring eight points.
Jakob Poeltl fouls Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, who got off to a slow start with just nine first-half points.
Photo: Morry Gash /Associated Press
DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 26 points. He now has scored 21 or more points in six straight games. LaMarcus Aldridge had 16, and Rudy Gay added 15.
The loss sent the Spurs into a tie for eighth place in the West with Portland (15-21). And the Spurs' reward for making game of it against the NBA's best team? Another one. They host the Bucks on Monday at the AT&T Center.