Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 of his 43 points in the second half as the host Milwaukee Bucks rallied for a 110-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night to remain unbeaten at 3-0.
Antetokounmpo, who entered averaging 24.7 points against Brooklyn, continued to torch the Nets, especially in the second half as the Bucks overcame a 12-point halftime deficit and another 12-point deficit midway through the third quarter.
Antetokounmpo recorded his second straight 40-point game and 31st of his career, helping Milwaukee outscore the Nets 67-44 after halftime. The star forward shot 16 of 25, grabbed 14 rebounds, added five assists and also hit 10 of 14 free throws.
Antetokounmpo started taking over midway through the third when he converted three layups in a 14-2 run to forge a 64-64 deadlock with 5:40 remaining. He scored 17 in the third as Milwaukee took a 78-76 lead into the fourth.
The Bucks took the lead for good with 9:43 remaining when Jordan Nwora's 3-pointer snapped an 83-83 deadlock. Antetokounmpo then helped Milwaukee finish off its 20th win in the past 25 regular-season meetings by hitting five baskets in the next six-plus minutes for a 100-85 lead with 3:29 remaining.
Reserve Bobby Portis added 20 points and 11 rebounds as Milwaukee shot 44.3 percent. Jrue Holiday contributed 15 and seven rebounds for the Bucks, who shot 56.4 percent in the second half.
Kevin Durant scored 33 points for the Nets, who lost for the third time in four games and also picked up five technical fouls.
Two of those were to coach Steve Nash, who was ejected with 4:24 left in the third by Josh Tiven. Nash was upset when Antetokounmpo did not get called for a foul after running into Patty Mills and had to be restrained by Royce O'Neale.
Kyrie Irving added 27 for the Nets, who shot 39.5 percent. O'Neale finished with 12 as Brooklyn's only other double-digit scorer.
After missing their first eight 3-point tries, the Bucks hit three in the final three-plus minutes of the first and held a 25-20 lead when Antetokounmpo converted a tip-in with 1.1 seconds left.
Brooklyn outscored Milwaukee 35-18 in the second and held a 55-43 lead by halftime after O'Neale hit two 3-pointers in its 13-3 run and the Nets took a 62-50 lead on Durant's 15-footer with 8:55 left in the third before folding.
