Antetokounmpo's dunk in closing seconds gives Bucks 122-121 win over Hornets

Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) drives between Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (7) and guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. Credit: AP/Morry Gash
MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo dunked on a lob from Kevin Porter Jr. with 4.7 seconds remaining to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 122-121 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.
Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for his NBA-leading 158th game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Antetokounmpo overtook Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who each accomplished that feat 157 times.
The lead changed hands three times in the last 10 1/2 seconds.
Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma sank a 3-pointer to put the Bucks ahead 120-118 with 10.3 seconds left.
After Charlotte called a timeout, Sion James inbounded the ball to Miles Bridges, who was heading toward the basket. Bridges laid the ball in while drawing Kuzma’s sixth foul with 8.8 seconds left. Bridges then hit the ensuing free throw to complete a 3-point play that put Charlotte back ahead.
Milwaukee called a timeout, then Porter threw an inbounds pass to Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo passed to Porter and then headed toward the basket and caught the lob to dunk home the winning basket.
Charlotte still had one more timeout. LaMelo Ball inbounded to Brandon Miller, whose contested driving layup attempt bounced off the backboard and didn’t go through as the buzzer sounded.

Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun (31) drives past Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. Credit: AP/Morry Gash
Kon Knueppel scored 26 points, Bridges 25, Miller 19 and Collin Sexton 16 for Charlotte. Ryan Rollins had 29 points and eight assists for Milwaukee, while Bobby Portis scored 20 points.
Milwaukee’s dramatic victory came two nights after the Bucks lost 114-113 to the Washington Wizards on a last-second jumper from CJ McCollum.
The Bucks and Hornets were facing off for the second time in five days, as the Bucks won 123-113 at Charlotte on Monday.
Milwaukee was playing its final home game before starting a four-game trip west.

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) shoots past Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. Credit: AP/Morry Gash
Up next
Hornets: At Chicago on Saturday.
Bucks: At Sacramento on Sunday.
More NBA news




