Bucks notch quality win vs Nuggets

There’s no need to apologize.  The Milwaukee Bucks have played plenty of games this year without some of their stars.   Giannis Antetokounmpo just came back from missing five straight, Khris Middleton is finally back on the floor after sitting idle for nearly two months and now key reserve Bobby Portis is on the shelf for at least a couple of weeks with an MCL sprain in his knee.    The Denver Nuggets, the team with the best record in the Western Conference played without two time reigning league MVP Nikola Jokic who sat out the second half of back to back games.     The Bucks prevailed 107-99 as Antetokounmpo again led the way with 33 points and 14 rebounds.   Jrue Holiday added 22 and Pat Connaughton put up a rare double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, picking up some of the glass work for the injured Portis.    The Nuggets (34-15) were led by Aaron Gordon with 26 points and 14 rebounds and trailed at the half by just five after Milwaukee played sloppy at times with a dozen turnovers.   The mistakes were eliminated after intermission as the Bucks built a comfortable double digit lead and hung for the win.   Milwaukee improves to 31-17, staying in third place in the East, three and a half games behind Boston and just a half game behind Philadelphia for second.    The Bucks return to action Friday night taking on the Pacers in Indianapolis.