Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts in the course of the second half of an NBA basketball recreation in opposition to the Washington Wizards, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photograph/Aaron Gash)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks owe a lot of their turnaround from a horrible begin to the way in which Giannis Antetokounmpo has taken his extraordinary recreation to a fair larger stage.
He has three triple-doubles within the final six video games he has performed.
“It was wonderful as a result of he scores, however extra importantly, he will get everybody concerned.” Bucks coach Doc Rivers stated after the Bucks' 124-114 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday evening. “It's so arduous to assist a passer who can rating. There are numerous guys on this league who can rating, (however) they don't move. You may entice them. You may kill the sport. However as Giannis goes, it’s a must to choose your poison.
Antetokounmpo had 42 factors, 12 rebounds and 11 assists on Saturday for the most important triple-double of his profession as he helped the Bucks win their sixth straight. After shedding eight of their first 10 video games this season, the Bucks have gained eight of 9 to maneuver over .500 at 10-9 for the primary time since beating Philadelphia within the season opener. The Bucks' progress was evident Saturday in the way in which they discovered a technique to win on an evening once they weren't notably sharp.
“If this had been the third or fourth recreation of the season, we most likely would have misplaced that recreation,” Antetokounmpo stated. “Now we simply know — whether or not it seems good, whether or not we're enjoying effectively — we've obtained to search out methods to win the sport.”
Antetokounmpo has discovered loads of methods to assist his crew recently. His 42-point efficiency on Saturday improved his season scoring common to an NBA-leading 32.9 factors.
He additionally has 11.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists per recreation.
Rivers stated Saturday that it’s “far” the perfect stretch he's seen from Antetokounmpo since taking up as Bucks coach halfway via final season.
“As a result of it's not only a rating,” Rivers stated. “It's all the pieces. He blocks photographs. He recovers the ball. He passes the ball. Our break begins. Him and Dame (Lillard), their two-man play was incredible. It simply does numerous issues for us and it does them in a stream. It doesn't appear compelled.”
Antetokounmpo recorded his first triple-double of the season on Nov. 16 when he had 22 factors, 15 rebounds and 12 assists because the Bucks fell 115-114 in Charlotte. The Bucks haven't misplaced since.
Six nights later, Antetokounmpo had 37 factors, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a 129-117 win over the Indiana Pacers.
The newest triple-double got here after a 106-103 win at Miami on Tuesday with left knee swelling. Saturday was Antetokounmpo's first recreation in every week. He stated afterward that it took him some time to get again right into a rhythm, however famous that the day off helped him in different methods.
“I felt sturdy as a result of clearly I took two or three days after the Miami recreation to elevate some weights, get my legs beneath me.” Antetokounmpo stated. “So I felt sturdy. Each transfer was sturdy there.”
That energy helped Antetokounmpo produce his 48th profession triple-double and eighth with no less than 35 factors. The Bucks famous after the sport that Antetokounmpo tied Michael Jordan's profession triple-double with 35 factors.
Antetokounmpo performed down the influence of the stretch as he regarded ahead to the Bucks' upcoming NBA Cup recreation in Detroit on Tuesday.
“I simply attempt not to concentrate to it” Antetokounmpo stated. “After I'm 40 and I'm someplace in Hawaii or the Caribbean and I'm ingesting a pina colada and I'm arguing with my spouse about how (nice) I used to be once I used to sing, I can say, 'Yeah, me and Michael . Jordan did that, I stated in the identical sentence. For now, I'm simply attempting to remain grounded and give attention to the subsequent one in opposition to Detroit.”