Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 59 points to lift the Milwaukee Bucks past the Detroit Pistons in a 127-120 overtime win Wednesday.
Antetokounmpo made 21-of-34 shots and only one 3-pointer along with 14 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.
He finished five points shy of tying his career-high 64-point game against the Indiana Pacers, set last season when he passed Michael Redd’s franchise record of 57 points set in 2006.
The Pistons and Bucks entered overtime tied 111-111 as Antetokounmpo had 48 points. His lone 3-pointer came in overtime, where he also made two pull-up jump shots and a slam dunk to cap off his 59-point night.
GIANNIS CAPS HIS 59-POINT ERUPTION.
BUCKS WIN IT OVERTIME. pic.twitter.com/0kqDObrU9g
— NBA (@NBA) November 14, 2024
GIANNIS FROM DEEP! pic.twitter.com/sm9wO0pGFz
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 14, 2024
With Wednesday’s win, the Bucks moved to 4-8 and the Pistons to 5-8.
Bucks needed all of Giannis’ firepower
Outside of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks’ main offensive options were all sidelined with injuries. Damian Lillard was out. Khris Middleton was out. Bobby Portis was out. The Bucks only scored 47 points in the first half. The Bucks went down 18 points three and a half minutes into the third quarter and then closed the regulation period with 59-41 run to tie the game at 111 to force overtime.
In overtime, Antetokounmpo flew through the air to deny a dunk attempt on an alley-oop. He knocked down a 3 and he scored 11 points to pull the Bucks to their fourth win of the season. It’s been a real struggle thus far in Milwaukee, but Antetokounmpo refused to let the Bucks lose tonight and willed his team to a win with an unbelievable performance. — Eric Nehm, Bucks beat writer
Antetokounmpo’s takeover
Antetokounmpo decided to take over from the start tonight. He scored 22 of the Bucks’ 24 points in the first quarter on 7-of-10 shooting, while the rest of his teammates put together a 0-for-12 first quarter from the field.
His teammates basketless streak extended to an 0-for-15 start that wasn’t broken up until Pat Connaughton hit a 3 nearly two minutes into the second quarter. — Nehm
(Photo: Jeff Hanisch / Imagn Images)
