Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points and grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds to lead the Milwaukee Bucks over the Washington Wizards 104-95 at Capital One Arena on Monday, the second time this month the Bucks have come away from D.C. victorious.
Washington (25-19), playing at home on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday for the fifth straight year, was in a charitable mood, committing a season-high 24 turnovers.
The Bucks, on the end of a back-to-back after a road loss Sunday to the Miami Heat, had 14 steals Monday and scored 25 points off Wizards turnovers.
Milwaukee (23-20) also had 20 second-chance points.
“That’s the key,” Wizards head coach Scott Brooks said of his team’s sloppy play. “It’s hard to win that way.”
Although shooting guard Bradley Beal scored 19 points, he only shot 1-for-7 from the 3-point line and committed seven turnovers.
Beal and backcourt mate John Wall took 39 of the Wizards’ 76 field goal attempts, or about 52 percent.
Small forward Otto Porter Jr., who missed the 104-95 home loss to Milwaukee on Jan. 6 because of a right hip injury and back tightness, scored eight points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field Monday.
Porter, who logged 31 minutes Monday, said he’s on a minutes restriction as he recovers, but doesn’t know exactly what that restriction is.
“The more I play, the more [I] get back in rhythm,” he said. “I’m just trying to get back legs back. Work on my core. Just try to be available.”
Brooks said Porter needs to figure out how “to get himself open” to receive more shot attempts.
Antetokounmpo, who ranks in the league’s top 15 in double-doubles, picked up where he left off earlier this month against Washington, when he dominated the Wizards in a 34-point, 12-rebound performance.
The Wizards also had problems Monday containing Bucks point guard Eric Bledsoe, who scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 23 overall.
Despite the loss, Wall called it “an honor” to play on King’s birthday, particularly in D.C.
“Plus, [with] my dad being from here and living here and growing up, it’s a blessing,” said Wall, who had 27 points along with nine assists. “We are all still sticking to what he had with this dream, and we are just trying to get everything to be right with it. To be able to play in this city is an honor, with some much great things going on here.”
The Wizards begin a five-game, 11-day road trip Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets. Washington’s next home will be Jan. 30 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.