AP Photo Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo attempts a layup as Detroit’s Tony Snell defends during the first half Wednesday.

DETROIT (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo was ready to go toe to toe with Blake Griffin during a second-quarter flareup between division rivals Milwaukee and Detroit.

The game was turning contentious. It wouldn’t stay close for long.

“They’re just a great defensive team and just play really physical,” Antetokounmpo said. “They want to be physical, they want to be dirty. They want you to get out of your game, and whenever you come in Detroit, you expect that.”

Antetokounmpo scored 35 points to lift the Bucks to their 13th consecutive victory, 127-103 over the Pistons on Wednesday night. The last time the Bucks had a longer winning streak than this was when they won 16 in a row spanning the end of the 1972-73 season and the beginning of 1973-74. They also had a 13-game run shortly after that 16-game streak ended.

Milwaukee won all eight matchups with the Pistons last season — four in the regular season and four in the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks also beat Detroit last month in their first meeting of 2019-20.

There were six technical fouls in this game, and there were words exchanged during a couple mild altercations. The first involved Antetokounmpo and Griffin after those two collided around midcourt in the second quarter.

“There’s going to be a lot of teams that are going to come out and try to be physical with me — try to hit me, knock me down to the floor,” Antetokounmpo said. “I just got to keep my composure.”

In the third quarter, Antetokounmpo fell to the ground after being fouled, and then Griffin stepped over him. Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton came over to confront Griffin. Three technicals were assessed after that.

“That’s going to happen. In a competitive game, it’s going to happen,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “If anything, that should get you more focused, more riled up, more ready to play, more ready to compete and more ready to be physical and finish at the rim. All those things you have to do in a competitive game like that, a physical game like that.”

The Bucks went on a 13-2 run late in the second quarter to lead 57-39, and although Detroit closed within 11 at the half, the Pistons never made a major run during the final two quarters. Antetokounmpo scored 12 points in the third, and Milwaukee led 92-72 after three.

“I liked our fire in the second quarter. I liked our fire in general,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think the guys, they’re in a good place. They’re playing good basketball. So we’ll keep it going.”

Andre Drummond had 23 points and 14 rebounds for Detroit. Middleton had 17 points for the Bucks.

Milwaukee had led start to finish in each of its previous two games, but the Bucks trailed 24-22 after the first quarter in this one.

This game probably became a bit more anticipated after the Pistons routed their previous two opponents by 34 and 33 points. But the Bucks had won their previous two by 41 and 44, and this one wasn’t close either.

“They’re at the top of the league, really, for a reason,” Griffin said. “It was a good test for us, the second time we played them on the second night of a back-to-back. But we’ve just got to be better.”

The Bucks host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, while the Pistons welcome the Indiana Pacers.

LAKERS 121, JAZZ 96

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Anthony Davis scored 26 points, LeBron James had 20 points and 12 assists and Los Angeles routed Utah.

Rajon Rondo added 14 points and a season-high 12 assists and season-high nine rebounds. Los Angeles cruised to an easy victory, outscoring Utah 32-5 in fast-break points and totaling 21 points off 19 Jazz turnovers.

MAVERICKS 121

TIMBERWOLVES 114

DALLAS (AP) — Dwight Powell had 24 points on 9-for-9 shooting from the field, Jalen Brunson ignited a fourth-quarter rally with 14 of his 16 points in the period and Dallas beat Minnesota.

CELTICS 112, HEAT 93

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored a season-high 31 points, Kemba Walker had 28 and Boston beat Miami to improve to 8-0 at home. Jimmy Butler led Miami with a season-high 37 points and had six rebounds and four assists.

HORNETS 106

WARRIORS 91

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Devonte Graham made 10 3-pointers and scored 33 points and Charlotte beat Golden State to spoil D’Angelo Russell’s return to the court.

NETS 130, HAWKS 118

ATLANTA (AP) — Garrett Temple scored a season-high 27 points, Spencer Dinwiddie had 18 of his 24 in the second half and Brooklyn beat Atlanta.

TRAIL BLAZERS 127 KINGS 116

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 33 points and Portland Trail Blazers pulled away in the final quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings 127-116 on Wednesday night.

Richaun Holmes had 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings.

MAGIC 128, SUNS 114

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Gordon scored a season-high 32 points, Terrence Ross had 22 and Orlando beat Phoenix.

PACERS 107, THUNDER 100

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — T.J. Warren scored 24 points to help Indiana beat Oklahoma City.

Domantas Sabonis added 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Pacers. They have won seven of eight.

BULLS 106, GRIZZLIES 99

CHICAGO (AP) — Zach LaVine scored 25 points, Wendell Carter Jr. had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Chicago held of Memphis.

Jonas Valanciunas had 32 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis.