/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47479374/usa-today-8873088.0.jpg)
The Milwaukee Bucks made sure that their first game in Madison since 1999 a memorable one.
After being up just two at halftime, the Bucks broke through with a 35-point third quarter en route to a comfortable 106-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in front of 12,381 inside the Kohl Center.
Led by Michael Carter-Williams' 11 points, the Bucks connected on 63 percent of their shots, owned Minnesota on the glass and didn't allow a single fast-break point in the third. Khris Middleton and John Henson added six points each as they both went 3-of-4 shooting, while Greg Monroe and Giannis Antetokounmpo added five respectively, with Antetokounmpo electrifying the crowd on both ends. Of those 35 points the Bucks finished with in the third quarter, 18 of them came inside the paint.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves only managed to hit four shots in the period as a team while the Bucks (literally and figuratively) flew by them. For the game Minnesota hit just 33% from the field and 4/21 from deep, while the Bucks hit over 50% from the field and 9/26 from deep.
The Bucks' run wasn't all that surprising considering they were already hitting half of their shots and Minnesota's starters only scored 18 points in the first half (10 from Andrew Wiggins, eight from Ricky Rubio). Wiggins' points came mostly from the line, as he went just 3/11 shooting from the field for 14 points overall. Shabazz Muhammad, Gorgui Dieng and the Bucks' fouling helped the Timberwolves stay in the game early, though they lost steam after the intermission. Muhammad had 18 overall and 13 in second, six of those points coming from the line (O.J. Mayo picked picked up three fouls). Dieng added eight points and recorded three steals.
Milwaukee's starting lineup combined to score 67 points tonight, with Middleton leading the way with 17 points (7-of-10 shooting, no threes) and six rebounds. Monroe posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, Giannis added 12 points and five rebounds, while Carter-Williams had a solid all-around stat line other than six turnovers: 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. One of those assists came on this pretty lob to Antetokounmpo:
Wisconsin alum and Milwaukee native Marcus Landry played the entire fourth quarter for the Bucks on his old floor, scoring five points, grabbing three rebounds and blocking two shots. Chris Copeland hit 3/5 from deep and added 11 points in his second game since returning from a family issue.
The Bucks will face the Timberwolves again this Friday to end their 2015-16 preseason stretch.