MILWAUKEE — In an exhilarating matchup on Wednesday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo showcased his dominance by scoring 59 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a thrilling 127-120 overtime win against the Detroit Pistons.
This remarkable performance stands as the highest single-game point total recorded by any NBA player this season and marks the second-best game for Antetokounmpo, who previously notched 64 points against Indiana last year.
Antetokounmpo displayed exceptional shooting, making 21 out of 34 attempts from the field and converting 16 of 17 from the free-throw line. He also contributed significantly by grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing out seven assists, helping the Bucks overcome an 18-point deficit during the second half.
Brook Lopez was another key contributor for Milwaukee, scoring 29 points in the contest. For Detroit, Cade Cunningham stood out with 35 points, while Malik Beasley, playing against his old team, added 26 points to the scoreboard.
In a dramatic moment, Pistons’ Ron Holland II was fouled by Antetokounmpo in the final second of regulation, with the score locked at 111. However, Holland failed to capitalize on the opportunity, missing both free-throw attempts.
The Pistons were missing some firepower, as starters Jaden Ivey and Tim Hardaway Jr. were sidelined. Ivey was dealing with a toe injury, while Hardaway was out due to receiving stitches for a head wound he sustained in the previous game against Miami.
Meanwhile, the Bucks were also short-handed, missing Damian Lillard, who was in concussion protocol, Ryan Rollins with left shoulder instability, and Bobby Portis due to a right elbow contusion.
Key takeaways from the game include Beasley’s impressive 3-point shooting, as he hit 4 out of 5 in the first half, contributing to Detroit’s effective 61.5% shooting from beyond the arc (8 of 13). Beasley finished the game with a shooting line of 8 of 16.
Another significant note was Antetokounmpo’s early-game performance, where he single-handedly scored all but two of Milwaukee’s first-quarter points, hitting 7 of 10 field-goal attempts and making all eight of his free throws for a total of 22 points in that quarter.
One pivotal incident occurred when Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart was ejected after committing a flagrant foul 2 by pulling Antetokounmpo’s jersey with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter. Antetokounmpo successfully converted both free-throws resulting from the foul.
The Bucks have now extended their dominance over the Pistons, improving their record to 22-1 against Detroit since the 2018-19 season and securing their tenth consecutive victory in the series.
Looking ahead, the Pistons are set to face the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, while the Bucks will travel to Charlotte for a game on Saturday.