Giannis scores 43 as Bucks beat Pistons 125-115

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 43 points and Milwaukee Bucks defeated Detroit Pistons 125-115 on Monday night to move above .500 mark for first time this season.

reigning two-time MVP scored 30 points by halftime, shot 17 of 24 from floor overall and finished with nine rebounds.

Bucks (4-3) have won ir last eight regular-season meetings with Pistons, which represents longest streak for eir team in history of series.

Detroit (1-6) played without two of its top three scorers in Blake Griffin and Josh Jackson.

Pistons opted to rest Griffin and protect his surgically repaired left knee after he played 29 minutes a night earlier in a 122-120 loss to Boston. Jackson has a sprained right ankle.

Jerami Grant and Derrick Rose led Pistons with 24 points each. Sekou Doumbouya, Wayne Ellington and Svi Mykhailiuk ded 13 apiece.

Khris Middleton scored 19 points, Jrue Holiday h 15 and D.J. Augustin 11 for Bucks. Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis ded 10 each.

Milwaukee went ahe for good midway through first quarter and led by as much as 18, though Detroit cut margin to single digits in fourth quarter.

Bucks led 118-110 with just over two minutes left when Doumbouya drove into lane and h his shot blocked by Antetokounmpo. star forward followed that up with a putback on or end to give Milwaukee a 10-point edge with 1:39 remaining.

Detroit never threatened again.

TIP-INS

Pistons: Detroit coach Dwane Casey is optimistic Jackson will be able to return in time for Wednesday’s game at Milwaukee. “If it was up to him, he’d probably be rey to go again tonight. But take our time, let it get fully healed and try t to cause any furr dam,” Casey said. ... Killian Hayes heed to locker room early in third quarter after he hurt his right leg making a diving attempt to deflect a pass. Casey said Hayes would get an MRI on Tuesday.

Bucks: Milwaukee didn’t have reserve guards Pat Connaughton or Sam Merrill available. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Connaughton strained his left groin in practice and Merrill sprained his left ankle while landing on a stanchion during team's victory over Chicago on Friday. Budenholzer didn’t have a timeline for when eir player might return.

UP NEXT

teams play in Milwaukee again on Wednesday. This is Pistons’ second straight back-to-back set, as y split two home games with Boston on Friday and Sunday.

Im credits: AP