Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks Box Score on Dec 22, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 22, 2017

MILWAUKEE -- Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton combined for 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Milwaukee Bucks closed the game with an 9-0 run in a 109-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night at the Bradley Center.

Middleton led Milwaukee with 28 points and Antetokounmpo added 26. Eric Bledsoe struggled from distance, going 1 of 6, but hit 7 of 10 from the line to finish with 24 points while adding 10 assists, five rebounds and three blocked shots.

Kemba Walker connected on four 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 32 points for the Hornets, who went 12 of 26 from beyond the arc and shot 44 percent (39 of 88) overall.

Bledsoe and Walker both scored 10 in the opening quarter, but Milwaukee went into the second with a 26-23 lead.

Walker hit three of four shots in the second quarter and the Hornets used a 20-7 run to take a 53-43 lead with 2:44 left in the half before going into the locker room up seven.

Milwaukee snapped out of its funk in late in the third quarter, using a 12-0 run to take a 76-75 lead on a driving dunk from Middleton with 3:05 left in the quarter.

The Hornets recovered and led by as many as five in the fourth quarter before Antetokounmpo knotted the score at 100 by converting a three-point play with 3:40 to go.

Charlotte slipped in front again but turned the ball over on consecutive possessions. Antetokounmpo fed Middleton for an open layup with 1:42 left, trying the score at 104.

Another empty possession led to a layup by Bledsoe that put the Bucks ahead and Antetokounmpo intercepted a pass from Frank Kaminsky that he took down the floor to make it 108-104.

NOTES: Hornets C Dwight Howard dislocated his left ring finger early in the first quarter. He had it taped during a timeout and returned to action but left later in the quarter and didn't return. ... The Hornets had lost 13 consecutive games by three points or less, the longest streak in NBA history. ... Milwaukee has scored 100 points or more in 14 consecutive games and has allowed 100 points in 10 consecutive games. Both of those streaks are the third-longest in the NBA this season. ... Bucks PG Malcolm Brogdon finished with 14 points. He has reached double figures in scoring 14 times since moving to the bench 19 games ago when Milwaukee acquired Eric Bledsoe from Phoenix. ... The teams wrap up the season series Saturday night in Charlotte.