The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 125-121, at AT & T Center on Thursday night.

The highly anticipated first-ever meeting between Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo after the former had missed the first game between the teams earlier in the season was hotly contested from the start. The Bucks (25-10) held a 38-31 lead after a high-scoring opening period, and the Spurs (5-29) managed to cut two points from their deficit before halftime. San Antonio then proceeded to send the game into the final period knotted up at 93-93 and ultimately had a chance to force overtime before Tre Jones' wide open would-be game-tying three-point attempt with 1.1 seconds remaining failed to find the net.

Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks with 44 points, adding 14 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block. Damian Lillard provided 25 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and one steal. Khris Middleton furnished 12 points, five assists, three boards and one steal. Malik Beasley delivered 10 points and two rebounds.

Devin Vassell paced the Spurs with 34 points, which he complemented with six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Wembanyama totaled 27 points, nine rebounds, one assist, five blocks and one steal. Jones supplied 18 points, six assists, five rebounds and one steal. Keldon Johnson generated a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one assist. Cedi Osman posted 13 points, five assists, two rebounds and three steals.

The Bucks remain in Texas and pay a visit to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, while the Spurs hit the road and visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon.