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Antetokounmpo, NBA-best Bucks earn tough victory over Warriors

AP Photo Milwaukee’s Eric Bledsoe, right, drives the ball around Golden State Warriors' Ky Bowman, second from right, during the first half Wednesday.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks own the best record in the NBA and coach Mike Budenholzer still wants far more than what he has seen the past two games.

More made shots. More pace. More energy. Better ball movement, too.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points and 12 rebounds while leading four Milwaukee starters in double figures, and the NBA-best Bucks held off the Golden State Warriors 107-98 on Wednesday night.

“Sometimes you’ve got to find a way to win kind of the ugly games, and I’m proud of the group for doing that,” Budenholzer said. “… We made just enough plays.”

Khris Middleton added 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists as Milwaukee — with the NBA’s best record at 33-6 — bounced back with a hard-fought victory against the young Warriors after having its five-game winning streak snapped in a 126-104 loss at San Antonio on Monday.

Alec Burks scored 19 points and Glenn Robinson III and Damion Lee added 15 points apiece for the cold-shooting Warriors, who lost their sixth straight game and third in a row at home. Willie Cauley-Stein contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Draymond Green was back for Golden State after sitting out Monday with a sprained right ankle and had five points on 1-for-7 shooting, eight rebounds and eight assists.

“Our pace was not great in the first half and it picked up in the second half,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “I thought we were a little tentative in the first half. They’re a great team, obviously the best team in the league and the best defense in the league.”

The Bucks overcame a cold shooting performance of 40.2% to win their third straight game on Golden State’s home floor, playing for the first time at new Chase Center on Wednesday.

Antetokounmpo notched his league-leading 32nd double-double after continuing to deal with a sore back. He shot 1 for 7 on 3-pointers and converted 9 of 13 free throws.

Kerr was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for verbally abusing a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following an ejection.

Kerr was ejected late in the second quarter of the Warriors’ 111-98 road loss to the Sacramento Kings on Monday night after getting hit with consecutive technical fouls by referee Jason Goldenberg.

Kerr appeared initially upset about a continuation call that went the Kings’ way, then erupted after Golden State did not receive a similar call. He angrily walked onto the court after the second technical and yelled at Goldenberg before leaving.

“I took my punishment and try to move on,” Kerr said.

Bucks guard George Hill missed the game with an illness. … Milwaukee is in the middle of a stretch with six straight games against the Western Conference, having gone 13-3 vs. the West and 33-13 against the other conference since the start of last season. … The Bucks scored 100 or more points for a 63rd consecutive game, the longest such streak since Dallas did so in 67 straight from Jan. 15-Dec. 10, 1986.

Buck play at Sacramento on Friday night.

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