In a game when Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was removed halfway through the third quarter, Milwaukee recovered to defeat the Detroit Pistons 120-118 on Wednesday night behind 34 points from Damian Lillard and 18 from Bobby Portis.

Antetokounmpo was thrown off the floor with nine minutes left on his second technical foul, purportedly for criticizing a defender following dunks. Antetokounmpo recorded a career-high nine rebounds, fifteen points on six of sixteen shots in 22 minutes before being called for a technical foul.

The Pistons were led in scoring by Cade Cunningham (33 points) and Marcus Sasser (26 points) despite having six players sidelined due to illness and injuries.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Detroit led by ten points; with 1:39 left, Cunningham made two free throws to give the team a 115-112 advantage.

The Bucks led 116-115 after Lillard scored on a drive and added a jumper from the lane.

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After Cunningham made a 3-pointer to bring the Pistons within 119-118, Brook Lopez made one to extend Milwaukee’s advantage to 119-115. With nine seconds remaining, the Pistons turned the ball over after the Bucks failed on their subsequent possession.

With 3.9 seconds left, Jae Crowder made the second of his two free throws to make the score 120-118.

After Antetokounmpo was sent off, the Bucks were up 73–60. Three quarters in, Detroit surged for a 95-90 lead.

In less than seven minutes, Sasser made a three-point play to give the Pistons a 109-99 lead.

With 8:17 remaining in the first half, Portis scored 13 points to spark a 16-2 run that gave the Bucks a 42-27 lead.

The Bucks led 62–52 at the half because to 26 points from their bench in the first half.

Khris Middleton was sidelined for the first game of a back-to-back due to a right knee injury, so Milwaukee was without him.