Bucks lead Rockets 83-80 after three quarters

The Milwaukee Bucks look to get back in the win column today against one of the better teams in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets, at Fiserv Forum.

Rockets guard Fred VanVleet scored 17 points in the third quarter, cutting the Bucks lead from 14 points to 83-80 after three quarters. Houston has scored 17 points off 13 Milwaukee turnovers and 13 points off 13 offensive rebounds. The Bucks led through three quarters with Brook Lopez’s 20 points.

Brook Lopez scored 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting, pulled down eight rebounds and blocked three shots to help the Bucks take a 57-45 halftime lead. He punctuated his offensive display with a 3-pointer from 29 feet after coming back from a very scary-looking fall following a block of an Amen Thompson drive that saw Lopez fall sideways onto the court and land hard on his left side. He then went straight to the dressing room, but returned shortly afterwards.

Gary Trent Jr. hit four three-pointers in the first half, good for 12 points for the Bucks. Houston had eight different players score.

The Rockets took an early 16-3 lead as the Bucks couldn’t make a shot and kept turning the ball over, but Milwaukee stuck with it and eventually climbed back into the game, trailing 28-27 after one. Brook Lopez was an offensive force, scoring 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting. Damian Lillard hit four free throws in his return to action.

The Bucks (4-9) are coming off a controversial loss in Charlotte on Saturday in which the Hornets won on two late free throws by LaMelo Ball following a foul call on Giannis Antetokounmpo that the league ruled after the play was incorrect.

Head coach Doc Rivers was fined $25,000 for his post-game comments on the botched call.

The Rockets have won five straight and are 10-4 after beating Chicago 143-107 Sunday night in Chicago.

Does Giannis play?

Yes, per head coach Doc Rivers. Antetokounmpo has been on the injured list all season, but he has not missed a game due to the pain he has had in his right knee all season.

Damian Lillard injury update

It appears all-star point guard Damian Lillard has cleared concussion protocol for tonight’s game and will play for the Bucks, according to head coach Doc Rivers.

Rivers said Lillard will not play under any restrictions upon his return to action.

Lillard suffered the concussion on Nov. 10 against Boston and has missed the last three games.

“It’s always good to have a player like Damian Lillard, what he means to our team offensively, defensively, in terms of mentality and game planning, so he can do nothing but help us be back,” said Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. he said Monday morning during shootaround. “Hopefully he will recover quickly and get better.”

Doc Rivers responds to the league’s fine

Rivers was fined $25,000 for his public criticism of the officials after the Bucks’ loss to Charlotte on Saturday, even though the team admitted after the game that they made the wrong call on Giannis Antetokounmpo that led to the eventual game-winning free throws by LaMelo. Ball with 7.3 seconds left.

“You’re really in a tough situation,” Rivers said of that postgame moment. “You have to defend your players. Unfortunately, I wish we could send Barry (Baum, Bucks communications director) out to do the media after games like that. You’re in a tough spot. And you know, I laughed with someone. It’s that rare concern when your girlfriend comes down with a bad outfit and she asks you what do you think? And if you give the right answer, you’re going to get in a lot of trouble fine.”

More: From sighing reporters to fake handshakes and official mistakes: a summary of 10 strange days for Bucks

What channel are the Bucks on?

The game starts at 7:00 PM and will air on the FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks in conversation.

Bucks injury report

• Khris Middleton, out (surgery on both ankles)

• Ryan Rollins, out (left shoulder instability)

• Damian Lillard, available (concussion protocol)

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, available (right patella tendinopathy)

Bucks starters

• Guards: Damian Lillard, Andre Jackson Jr.

• Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Taurus Prince

• Center: Brook Lopez

Bucks vs. Rockets odds, over/under

Milwaukee is a 4.5-point favorite over Houston, with the over/under in the game sitting at 222.5 points per BetMGM.

This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks lead Rockets 83-80 after three quarters