The Grizzlies continued their dominant stretch with another terrific performance. De’Anthony Melton had 24 points, Desmond Bane added 20 and the Memphis Grizzlies continued to win in the absence of star guard Ja Morant. They defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 127-102 on Saturday night.
Dillon Brooks scored 19 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 16 to help Memphis win its fourth straight. Melton was 8 of 11 from the field, going 6 of 9 from 3-point range.
“I’m just trying to go out there and hoop,” Melton said. “Have fun with it. Play with confidence and do what the team needs me to do.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. He scored 18 points in the third quarter when Milwaukee tried to make a run. Khris Middleton also added 16 points. This defeat was only the third for the Bucks in the last 13 games. Milwaukee dropped into a tie for third with Boston in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind Philadelphia and Miami. Antetokounmpo was listed as questionable before the game but after going through pregame warmups was deemed ready to play. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies continued to play without Morant who is nursing a sore right knee.
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The Bucks had trouble connecting on their first-half shots and were under 30% overall near the midway point of the second quarter. Antetokounmpo was 3 of 11 in the first half, part of Milwaukee’s 32% shooting. Antetokounmpo came out with much more aggression in the second half making his way to the basket and helping Milwaukee chip into the Memphis lead. But near the three-minute mark, Melton connected on a trio of 3-pointers to take the Grizzlies lead to 22.
For the Grizzlies, they continue to win without Ja Morant. They are now 17-2 with their leading scorer not playing.
