Brook Lopez scored 39 points (20 in the paint), and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Washington Wizards 131-128.
Lopez’s 3-pointer put the Bucks ahead for good with 2:40 left in the fourth quarter.
The Wizards had the ball down 3, but Kyle Kuzma missed a 37-foot pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied it.
During clutch time, the Bucks outscored the Wizards 18-13. Damian Lillard (No. 3 in clutch points, 2023-24) scored 8 of the Bucks’ 18 on 3 for 3 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line.
Lillard had 31 points and 10 assists, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 31 points (22 in the paint), 9 rebounds and 3 steals. The Bucks had 3 30-point scorers.
For the Wizards, Jordan Poole had 26 points and 7 assists, and Tyus Jones added 22 points and 7 assists. Kuzma scored 22 points. Corey Kispert scored 20 points with 6 3-pointers off the bench. The Wizards had 4 20-point scorers.
The Bucks went 26 for 33 at the line to the Wizards’ 17 for 21. The Wizards forced 9 turnovers, about 7 fewer than usual for this many possessions. They outscored the Bucks 48-14 off the bench.