By the end of the third quarter, Antetokounmpo had double figures in all three categories with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. Milwaukee, which had a 2 1/2-game advantage over Cleveland for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference going into the game, found that insufficient.

Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s triple-double, Corey Kispert scored 27 points and Deni Avdija added 23 as the Washington Wizards defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 117-113 on Tuesday night.

For Washington, Jared Butler scored 17 points off the bench to support Jordan Poole, who finished with 16 points and a career-high 13 assists. The Wizards signed 7-foot youngster from Serbia, Tristan Vukcevic, in the middle of last month, and he scored 14. Six was his prior career high.

Although both teams struggled from the three-point line early on, Bucks substitutes Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, and Danilo Gallinari (with another three) nailed a few late baskets to give Milwaukee a slim 28-27 lead. This game was a great example of the outlier shooting genre.

After that, the substitutions gave the second half a rough start with mistakes and fouls, and Milwaukee went three minutes without scoring a basket while Washington managed to carve out a slim lead. At the half, Washington would lead 54–56.

After leading 58–54 at the half, Washington went on a 12-run in the third quarter to increase their lead to 15. Throughout the game, Milwaukee made 11 of 48 3-pointers, but the Bucks eventually made a few in the closing minutes of the third, highlighted by a basket by Jae Crowder at the buzzer that trimmed the advantage to five.

Milwaukee was having trouble with isolation ball, and their targeted three-pointers were consistently missing. Although a 14-point advantage for the Wizards did not necessarily mean that the game was lost, it did make it more difficult for Milwaukee to rally.

In the fourth, it was down to two, but Washington managed to hang on. Kispert’s three-pointer put Milwaukee ahead 113-106, and in the closing seconds, Antetokounmpo gave up the ball inside.

The Bucks would eventually catch up, and with 21.9 seconds left, they called a timeout. Giannis Antetokounmpo was fouled by Jordan Poole during a final open play possession that had the potential to tie the game. Anthony Gill’s transition layup and subsequent free throws sealed the defeat with a score of 113-117.

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With 8.3 seconds remaining, Khris Middleton made a layup, but Anthony Gill broke loose behind Milwaukee’s defense to restore the advantage to four points.

Star guard Damian Lillard (right groin strain) was not available for Milwaukee, and Kyle Kuzma (right heel contusion) was not available for the Wizards.

Doc Rivers, the coach of the Bucks, stated that Lillard might return as soon as Wednesday night.

Patrick Beverley was lost by the Bucks in the third quarter following a slip by Poole, who collided with Beverley’s left leg while driving to the basket. Despite their injuries, Poole was able to continue playing.