Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to make it clear that despite his statements (“My next challenge may not be here”) Milwaukee is still their territory and whoever wants to conquer it will have to draw their best weapons to take down a player who when he activates the beast mode is unstoppable. And so he let the favorites know Lakers, whom I defeated by 109-102 with a real game.
TECHNICAL DATA
- 109, Bucks: Antetokounmpo (47), Middleton (16), Portis (17), Holiday (8) y Allen (5) – Connaughton (16), Ojeleye (-), Nwora (-) y Hill (-).
- 102, Lakers: Anthony (10), Davis (18), Westbrook (19), Bradley (5) y Horton-Tucker (25) – Monk (11), Rondo (8), Ellington (3), Howard (3), Jordan (-) y Bazemore (-).
The Greek forward signed the best performance so far this season in the NBA with 47 points, nine rebounds, three assists, a plug and a steal. The Hellenic player made 18 of his 23 field goals, which is a 78% effective. Antetokounmpo becomes the First player to exceed 45 points and 75% accuracy since Shaquille O’Neal in 1995.
Middleton makes history with the Bucks
Another prominent player on the Wisconsin team was Khris Middleton returning to the reigning NBA champions after missing eight games after testing positive for COVID-19. The forward has become Bucks history after exceed 1,050 3-pointers scored by Ray Allen for the most 3-point runner in the history of the Milwaukee team.
NIGHT RESULTS
- Hornets 97-87 Wizards
- Pistons 97-89 Pacers
- Hawks 110-99 Celtics
- Nets 109-99 Cavaliers
- Heat 113-98 Pelicans
- Knicks 98-104 Magic
- Bucks 109-102 Lakers
- Timberwolves 107-97 Kings
- Thunder 101-89 Rockets
- Suns 105-98 Mavericks
- Trail Blazers 112-107 Bulls
It is the third game in which the current NBA champions were able to count on their star troo (Antetokounmpo-Holiday-Middleton) with whom they have not lost this season. Although against the Lakers they were about to do it and only when they pressed the accelerator in the last minutes did they manage to tie the seventh win in the first 15 games of the course.
Waiting for LeBron
The Angelenos, who continue to show a very irregular face without LeBron James, They showed their faces at the Bucks, but could not with the final push from Anteto and company. Talen Horton-Tucker was the best scorer of the Los Angeles team with 25 points, while Anthony Davis stayed at 18 and Russell Westbrook finished with 19 and 15 assists.
An arsenal that was insufficient for a team that already waits with open arms for the return of its leader. James, who has already missed six games, will be able to return in the team’s next game against the Celtics in Boston.