The Milwaukee Bucks won the front end of this week's home-and-home against the Detroit Pistons with a 125-115 victory.
Giannis Anetokounmpo set the pace early for the Bucks, scoring 30 of his game-high 43 points before the break. The Bucks had five other players finish in double figures on the evening, including 19 from Khris Middleton and 15 from Jrue Holiday. It was the first time the Bucks did not hit more than 20 three-pointers in the game, which Anetokounmpo credited in the postgame interviews for giving him more opportunities inside the paint against the Pistons. The Bucks shot 57 percent for the game and 32 assists on 49 made field goals. They also outrebounded the Pistons 49-31, who were without star player Blake Griffin so he could rest his recently surgically repaired right knee. Jerami Grant and Derrick Rose scored 24 points in the loss for the Pistons.
The two teams will face each other in Milwaukee again on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip.