Stephen Curry scored 41 points, including 30 in the second half, and the Golden State Warriors found the energetic effort they were looking for, rallying late for a 121-120 victory Tuesday over the Milwaukee Bucks in San Francisco.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 19 points and Kent Bazemore added 18 as the Warriors ended a three-game losing streak in the opener of a stretch of four home games. Oubre gave the Warriors the lead on two free throws with 7.7 seconds remaining.
Golden State had lost seven of its previous eight games and is clinging to the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference, the last spot to be eligible for the play-in tournament for the postseason.
Jrue Holiday scored 29 points and Khris Middleton added 28 as Milwaukee saw its three-game winning streak end. The Bucks were playing without leading scorer and rebounder Giannis Antetokounmpo for the second consecutive game because of left knee soreness.
James Wiseman had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Golden State, which rallied from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter and multiple 10-point deficits in the fourth quarter. The Warriors trailed 116-106 with four minutes remaining before going on their late rally.
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A 14-1 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Curry, gave the Warriors 120-117 lead with 1:06 remaining. The Bucks took a 121-120 lead on a rebound and put-back from Holiday before Oubre’s deciding free throws.
The Bucks missed a 3-point attempt from Middleton and a put-back inside from Pat Connaughton in the final 3.7 seconds.
The Bucks were not completely Antetokounmpo-free as Giannis’ older brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo had 10 points and five rebounds off the bench. Thanasis Antetokounmpo entered the night averaging 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 37 games.
Bobby Portis, who got the start in place of Antetokounmpo, had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Jordan Poole had 10 points off the bench for the Warriors, who avenged 138-99 loss at Milwaukee on Christmas Day.
–Field Level Media