Giannis Antetokounmpo dominates in return to Bucks’ lineup
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return to the courtroom fittingly got here in New York.
One month after feigning ignorance following a victory over the Knicks in Milwaukee about probably forcing a blockbuster commerce to New York over the summer season, the two-time NBA MVP rejoined the Bucks’ lineup Friday night time and registered 30 factors, 15 rebounds and eight assists in simply 28 minutes in a 118-109 NBA Cup elimination loss on the Backyard.
The Bucks had hoisted the in-season trophy one yr in the past with their star participant named match MVP, however Antetokounmpo had missed their earlier 4 video games — all losses in what’s now a seven-game skid total — with a thigh damage.
“Clearly, you need to win video games, you need to win tournaments. We had the chance to go to Vegas twice in a row. Not going to Vegas and never having the ability to gamble on ‘34-Crimson’ yet one more time, I believe it’s going to be very robust for me,” Antetokounmpo stated, referring to his uniform quantity. “On the finish of the day, I need to win. We’ve misplaced seven in a row, and I don’t keep in mind the final time I misplaced seven in a row. We gotta lock in … and be capable to get that win tomorrow [in Brooklyn].
“However I felt good. … For the primary recreation again, I felt highly effective. I hoped that I might assist the staff win the sport, however we’ve got one other one tomorrow and we’ve got to get again on monitor.”
Antetokounmpo had been listed as questionable for the Bucks’ first go to to MSG this season, however the nine-time All-Star participated within the staff’s morning shootaround and was introduced as obtainable about an hour earlier than tipoff.
Antetokounmpo dedicated two private fouls within the first 90 seconds of the opening quarter, however he nonetheless netted 15 factors by halftime, together with a few alley-oop dunks, earlier than matching that scoring output after intermission.
“With Giannis again, clearly he was on a minutes restriction tonight, which is absolutely tough in a recreation like this,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers stated. “We misplaced the leads after we took him off the ground.”
One in every of Milwaukee’s early wins this season was a 121-111 defeat of the Knicks at Fiserv Discussion board on Oct. 30, with Antetokounmpo netting a game-high 37 factors on 16-for-22 capturing in 33 minutes.
When requested afterward by a Submit reporter about ESPN’s preliminary report in regards to the summertime commerce chance to New York, Antetokounmpo replied, “I don’t do not forget that.”
“Proper now, I’m right here representing my staff, and that’s it. We beat the Knicks. So it doesn’t matter,” he continued. “What issues proper now’s we’ve got a recreation in two days … attempt to keep locked in and get two in a row.
“However I didn’t learn that article. I attempt to keep away from all of the rumors and hypothesis and trades. It doesn’t concern me one bit. I attempt to contain myself and I attempt to assist my staff win video games.”
The 30-year-old Greek Freak did acknowledge that night time there was “a variety of additional [motivation]” to face the Knicks, who swept Milwaukee within the three-game season sequence between the groups final yr.
“They have been manner higher than us final yr,” Antetokounmpo stated. “We didn’t make it robust for them. It was very simple, in my view. Because the chief of this staff, I keep in mind. I don’t neglect issues.”
