WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Milwaukee Bucks have had their issues, puzzling moments and inconsistencies, but they sure do know how to close out games in the nation's capital.
For the second time in nine days, the Bucks and Washington Wizards engaged in a tight battle deep into the fourth quarter. And for the second time in nine days, the Bucks made all the right plays down the stretch, earning a 104-95 victory at Capital One Arena.
Giannis Antetokounmpo played a major role in the victory, scoring 27 points and pulling down a career-high 20 rebounds. Those numbers made him the first Bucks player to surpass 25 points and 20 rebounds in the same game since Ersan Ilyasova had 29 and 25 against the New Jersey Nets on Feb. 19, 2012.
BOX SCORE: Bucks 104, Wizards 95
The Bucks held the Wizards without a field goal for nearly six minutes late in the fourth quarter as they went on an 11-0 run to seal the win. Eric Bledsoe started the comeback with a putback and shortly after Antetokounmpo knocked down a 22-footer. Bledsoe then split the defense for a layup and Khris Middleton came up with the Bucks' 14th steal — part of a season-high 24-turnover game by the Wizards — for a layup.
Antetokounmpo then sealed the victory by banking in a 7-footer.
The victory came after a disappointing loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday, marking the second time the Bucks have defeated the Wizards coming off a loss in the second of a back-to-back game.
Bledsoe had 23 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists and Middleton added 19 points on 9 of 16 shooting to break out of his recent slump. Malcolm Brogdon added 16 points.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
New addition, familiar name: The Bucks plan to sign G League center Marshall Plumlee to a two-way contract ahead of Monday's deadline to sign players to two-way deals.
The 7-footer out of Duke spent last season split between the New York Knicks, where he logged 170 minutes in 21 games, and the Westchester Knicks of the G League where he averaged 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in 15 contests. In 27 games with the Agua Caliente Clippers this season, Plumlee has put up 8.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Plumlee is the younger brother of fellow NBA players Miles, who played for the Bucks from 2015-'17, and Mason. He will not have the full complement of 45 days with the NBA club as part of his two-way, instead receiving a pro-rated amount because he signed during the season.