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MILWAUKEE — On Thursday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo was more focused on addressing the Milwaukee Bucks’ challenging gameplay rather than celebrating his latest record. The two-time MVP expressed his concern over the team’s repeated tendency to create difficulties for themselves early in matches.
Two nights after a remarkable comeback win where they overcame a 19-point deficit to defeat Indiana 120-112, the Bucks found themselves trailing by 24 points against the Brooklyn Nets. Despite their efforts, they narrowly lost 113-110. “When you go down 20, that’s when the clock starts for us,” stated Antetokounmpo. “We put ourselves in a hole and just dig our way out, which depletes everyone’s energy.”
Antetokounmpo managed to score 27 points, hitting 12 of 24 shots, but his missed layup attempt in the final moments could have given Milwaukee the lead. Nonetheless, he achieved a significant milestone by scoring over 20 points and maintaining a shooting percentage of at least 50% for the 26th consecutive game, establishing a new record that he now holds alone. Previously, he was tied with Shaquille O’Neal and Zion Williamson for this feat.
O’Neal’s impressive run occurred between January and March 2001, while Williamson attained the milestone from February to April 2021. So far this season, Antetokounmpo has consistently scored at least 20 points and shot over 50% in every game he’s participated in. “I didn’t even know that,” he admitted. “I play to win. That has been my motto throughout the season. My priority is winning, above anything else.”
The determination shown by Antetokounmpo has played a vital role in enabling the Bucks to shake off a dismal 2-8 start, propelling them into playoff contention. However, since their recent triumph in the NBA Cup last month, the Bucks have seen a downturn, going 3-4 in their last seven games, including three losses in their most recent four outings.
In part, these struggles can be attributed to Antetokounmpo missing four consecutive games due to back spasms and illness. His return against Indiana was met with understandable slow starts as he sought to regain his regular rhythm. “You quickly become out of breath, especially when playing against a team like Indiana that pushes fast right from the tip,” said Antetokounmpo. “It takes some time to get back in sync.”
The Bucks’ sluggish performance at home against Brooklyn was baffling, especially considering their ongoing difficulties facing the Nets, who halted their three-game losing streak. Despite Brooklyn’s 13-21 record this season, they maintain a strong 3-1 edge against Milwaukee, marking the first time since the 2013-14 season that the Nets have achieved three wins over the Bucks in a single season.
“At the end of the day, in a game like this, it’s about individual pride,” remarked Antetokounmpo. “It’s about who’s willing to compete and play harder. From what I’ve seen, they’ve outworked us in three out of the four matchups.”
Milwaukee’s effort in the final moments of the last two games has been noteworthy. After trailing 111-90 with under seven minutes to go on Thursday, the Bucks held the Nets scoreless for the remainder of the game and had opportunities to seize the lead. However, their tendency for slow starts proved detrimental. Acknowledging the importance of improving their playoff positioning, the team recognizes they can’t afford losses against such rivals.
“Let’s not over-complicate things,” Antetokounmpo concluded. “We didn’t perform well. They played harder than us in three out of the four games. Our gameplay lacked intelligence. Now we need to review the footage and strive to improve. That’s essentially it.”
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