Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 13 of his 26 points in Milwaukee's big third quarter and the Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 120-99 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Eric Bledsoe led the Bucks with 27 points, and Khris Middleton had 24. Milwaukee is trying win a series for the first time since 2001.
Luke Kennard had 19 points for Detroit. Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond each added 18, and Drummond had 16 rebounds. Detroit star Blake Griffin sat out again with a left knee injury, but received a technical for the second straight game for arguing from the bench.
Game 3 is Saturday night in Detroit.
After scoring 10 points and playing only 14 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, Antetokounmpo scored Milwaukee's first seven points in the third quarter. The Bucks outscored Detroit 35-17 in the period to take a 93-76 lead into the fourth.
"It is about will," Antetokounmpo said. "I knew they were going to put guys in the paint, crowd me. I just tried to have patience."
Detroit clawed within seven in the fourth before the Bucks put it away, capped by a hard drive by Antetokounmpo on a break. He banked in an awkward reverse-angle shot while crashing to the floor after being fouled by Drummond. He competed the three-point play it make it 105-87.
Detroit battled back in the second quarter, finally taking a 57-56 lead on Jackson's jumper with 28 seconds left. Bledsoe briefly put the Bucks back in front, but Jackson closed the half with a layup to give Detroit a 59-58 lead.
"I don't think he felt great about how he played in the first half," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said about Antetokounmpo. "When he feels that way, he's going to do something to change it."
Bledsoe led the Bucks with 27 points, and Khris Middleton had 24. Milwaukee is trying to win a series for the first time since 2001.
"We knew they was going to come out with fight," Bledsoe said. "We just had to match their intensity."
Griffin took part in light drills at the morning's shootaround while wearing a heavy brace on his leg. Thon Maker, acquired from Milwaukee near the trading deadline, started in Griffin's place for the second straight game. Detroit committed two turnovers in the first half.
