Giannis Antetokounmpo exploded for a season-high 59 points, lifting the Milwaukee Bucks to a thrilling 127-120 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, overcoming an 18-point deficit to secure a much-needed victory amid key injuries.
In a stunning individual performance, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 59 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 127-120 overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons. Antetokounmpo’s scoring feat is the highest by any player in the NBA this season, and it brought the Bucks, now 4-8, a crucial win as they look to gain momentum in the early part of the season.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers admitted he was uncertain at first if Antetokounmpo’s early-game dominance was a positive sign, as he scored 22 of Milwaukee’s 24 points in the first quarter. “It’s funny how a coach thinks. We called a timeout, and Giannis has 22 of our 24. I’m thinking, ‘This ain’t good. We’ve got to get somebody else involved,’” Rivers said. Ultimately, Rivers came to appreciate the historic performance. “After the game, you realize how special this is. But during the game, you’re in a panic.”
Antetokounmpo was nearly unstoppable throughout the night, finishing 21-of-34 from the field and 16-of-17 from the free-throw line, alongside 14 rebounds and seven assists. In overtime, he single-handedly outscored Detroit 11-9, sealing the victory and becoming the first Bucks player since 1996-97 to shoot 5-for-5 or better in a single OT period.
Despite his dominance, Antetokounmpo acknowledged the importance of balance, especially with teammates Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Bobby Portis sidelined by injuries. “Coming into this game, I realized I have to be aggressive. While I was doing that, it was not working. We were down by 15, 18,” he said. “In the second half, I had to keep my aggressiveness but keep on moving the ball.”
Milwaukee rallied in the second half with Brook Lopez adding 29 points. Supporting roles from Taurean Prince, Andre Jackson Jr., and Gary Trent Jr. helped fuel the comeback. An intense third-quarter moment saw Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart ejected for a flagrant foul after pulling Antetokounmpo down by his jersey, which only seemed to fire up the Bucks further as they erased an 18-point deficit and outscored the Pistons 38-24 in that period.
Reflecting on his journey and the Bucks’ evolving roster, Antetokounmpo shared a heartfelt message with his teammates before the game. “The first year I came to the Bucks, we were one of the worst teams in the NBA. Guys are missing right now. Instead of thinking Dame’s not here, Khris is not here, Bobby is not playing, we should be thinking Andre is going to play, AJ is going to play. Don’t take this moment for granted.”
The 59-point night now stands as one of the best performances in recent NBA memory. On the same night, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs scored a career-high 50 points and Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns netted 46, marking a rare occasion where three players each scored at least 45 points in a single day in league history.
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