With 33 points and 13 rebounds, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 112-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, launching them ahead of the All-Star break.

At 39–17, Minnesota fell into a tie with Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference. Earlier on Friday, the Thunder crushed Washington 147-106.After trailing by 17 points late in the third quarter, Anthony Edwards sank three 3-pointers in the last 1:58 to give the Wolves a late opportunity. However, Damian Lillard sealed the deal for the Bucks with a pullup 21-footer with 10.3 seconds remaining to give them a five-point advantage.”You must resist the need to become overly consumed by the misses. With 21 points, 10 assists, and a career-high nine rebounds to offset an 8-for-23 shooting performance, Lillard said, “I knew eventually they would fall.” Lillard’s team, the Bucks (36-21), are now just 4-7 under new coach Doc Rivers.

In the third quarter, when the Bucks defeated the Wolves 36–13, Malik Beasley scored all 14 of his points..

“We must improve,” head coach Chris Finch declared. “We weren’t sharp, but we were hustling.”

The Wolves had a 32–14 second-chance points edge because to Karl-Anthony Towns (22 points, 14 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (12 points, 19 rebounds), but their careless third quarter proved to be too much to overcome.

“We simply exuded a fantastic vibe,” stated Bucks centre Brook Lopez.

Given that both teams had two All-Stars and that both coaching staffs had represented their conferences at the league’s midseason showcase the previous weekend, ESPN decided to air this game nationally in the late-night hours. The occasion was matched by the crowd, which included many Bucks supporters.

The erratic corner shooter Beasley, who was traded to Utah for Gobert two summers ago after playing for the Wolves for more than two seasons, didn’t take a shot in the first half. Rivers highlighted the issue by holding up the stat sheet in the locker room, and the rally’s success was largely dependent on ball movement. In the third quarter, Beasley scored four 3-pointers, which fueled a 23-4 run that lasted for 4:41. After the fourth, he struck a pose with a backside wiggle to highlight the 87-70 lead.

“It creates an opportunity for players to play well in the closing minutes, when they aren’t just expected to shoot,” stated Lillard. Despite holding a firm grip on third place in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks are attempting to establish themselves under Rivers following the abrupt midseason transformation.

The performance was further hampered by the absence of three-time All-Star Khris Middleton from his sixth consecutive game due to a sprained left ankle.  Despite winning the 3-point shooting contest and being named MVP of the All-Star Game the previous weekend, Lillard has not yet settled into a routine alongside Antetokounmpo on his new club.

His 3-point percentage going into the game was 34.1%, which was the second-lowest of his 12 NBA seasons. He finished the game with a mere 2 for 8. 

With four 3-pointers in the first quarter, Lopez, who finished with 16 points, gave the Bucks an early lead. In the second, Antetokounmpo regained his motivation. The third was then taken over by Beasley.

“Our guys are starting to believe that you have to be able to lean on your defence down the stretch,” Rivers stated.

For the majority of the game, the Wolves—who were playing their first of seven straight home games—exhibited the dreaded post-break rust.

Edwards stated, “I feel like we came out a little too comfortable in the second half.”