MILWAUKEE – Giannis Antetokounmpo says he wants to produce with so much consistency that it gets boring.
That’s the only spot the two-time MVP has fallen short on lately.
Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 55 points with a series of thrilling dunks and drives Tuesday when the Milwaukee Bucks defeated Washington 123-113 on Tuesday night, ending the Wizards’ five-game winning streak. The spectacular forward also had 10 rebounds and seven assists to continue what is arguably the best stretch of his career.
“I want to get into a position… that my game is boring,” said Antetokounmpo. “I just do what I do and people don’t talk about it because it gets boring – I do it every night. I want to do that. I want others to feel that my game is boring. But I don’t get bored. The greats – the best players – never get bored. They go out there and do their best every night.”
Antetokounmpo has at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in each of the last three games he has played. The two-time MVP sat down 118-95 loss to the Wizards on Sunday because of a sore left knee.
The only other players in NBA history to have 40 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists three straight years are Elgin Baylor in 1961 and 1963, Wilt Chamberlain in 1963, and Russell Westbrook in 2016. The only other Bucks to have at least 40 points Three consecutive appearances are Flynn Robinson in February 1969 and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in February 1972.
“He kind of played with that kind of determination, that kind of determination that we just wanted in games,” said Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer. “Tonight we were able to win. He was just phenomenal.”
Bucks center Brook Lopez is playing alongside Antetokoumpo in his fifth season. The 7-footer couldn’t recall a stretch in the regular season where Antetokounmpo would have played better.
“He’s just constantly improving,” said Lopez, who had 21 points and 12 rebounds. “If you think where else is he going and how else can he improve, he just improves again. We need to somehow expand the English language to find words (to describe him). I don’t know if I’ve said that before, but I’m sure he’ll improve again. Who knows what he will do next. He’s just so unworldly.”
Antetokounmpo’s previous career high was a 52 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 17, 2019. He narrowly missed the single-game franchise scoring record set by Michael Redd, who scored 57 points against the Utah Jazz in November 2006.
Washington’s Bradley Beal returned after missing three games with a sore left thigh, but he only played 13 minutes. Beal scored eight points before a hamstring problem prevented him from playing at all in the second half.
“Same area,” said Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. “We just have to get it evaluated.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 points for the Wizards and Kyle Kuzma added 20.
Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis had 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday returned to action after missing three games with a non-COVID illness and scored six points in 19 minutes. Bucks forward Khris Middleton missed an eighth straight game with a sore right knee and also won’t play in Toronto on Wednesday.
TIP INS
Wizards: Taj Gibson missed a third straight game with a sore left groin. … Gaford had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. … Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert each had 12 points.
Bucks: George Hill missed a third straight game due to non-COVID illness. … Portis has four consecutive double-doubles. … Grayson Allen shot 1 of 9 overall and 1 of 7 from 3-point range to continue his slump. Allen is 9 of 37 on 3-point attempts in his last four games. … Antetokounmpo was 15 of 16 on free throws.
NEXT
Wizards: In Oklahoma City on Friday night.
Bucks: Wednesday night in Toronto.
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