The Milwaukee Bucks nearly rallied from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit before falling short in a 107-100 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night at the Smoothie King Center.

Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with 35 points and 14 rebounds while Lillard and Malik Beasley had 20 points each. Lillard also had seven assists. Khris Middleton was just 3-for-12 for seven points, though he handed out six assists.

Milwaukee (46-27) cut the deficit to 98-93 on a Damian Lillard three-pointer with 3 minutes 27 seconds remaining but Zion Williamson made four straight free throws while the Bucks missed 2 three-pointers to effectively end the game. Another Lillard three made it 105-100 with 17 seconds left, but the Pelicans continued to make their free throws as the Bucks had to foul to try and create extra possessions.

It was a tough start to a three-game, six-day road trip for the Bucks, who have struggled on the road all season long. The Pelicans improved to 45-28 overall and 10-3 in March.

In the fourth quarter, Williamson scored 11 points, making seven free throws. At 28, he was the Pelicans’ leading scorer. CJ McCollum finished with 25 points and seven assists. Trey Murphy III had 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Jonas Valanc̯iūnas had 17 points and 10 rebounds.Herb Jones led New Orleans’ defensive effort with 11 points, four steals, and three blocks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has monster third quarter trying to rally Bucks

The Bucks looked adrift in the opening minutes of the third quarter, trailing 66-53 with just over eight minutes left when Antetokounmpo found a phone booth and came out with his cape. His tough and-one on Zion Williamson started a personal 20-point run that lasted until 2:22 remained in the quarter and the Bucks trailed 83-70.

Antetokounmpo played the entire quarter, going 8-for-9 with his lone miss being a three-pointer. He also was 4-for-9 from the free throw line in scoring those 20 points.

Khris Middleton played nearly that entire time alongside him, handing out four assists.

Unfortunately for the Bucks, Trey Murphy III hit 2 three-pointers and Larry Nance Jr. hit one as well to offset Antetokounmpo’s efforts an maintain a double-digit lead going into the fourth quarter at 85-73.

Damian Lillard went to locker room, missed most of third quarter

After playing the first 4:57 of the third quarter and going 1-for-3 from the floor, Damian Lillard subbed out between a pair of Giannis Antetokounmpo free throws. He went right to the Bucks locker room and didn’t return until the quarter was about to end, a stretch that encompassed the final 7:03 of the frame and roughly 13 minutes of real time.

Lillard had taken some hard falls – without fouls called – throughout various points in the game.

He checked in to begin the fourth quarter.