Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored 50 factors and grabbed 13 rebounds as his Milwaukee Bucks trounced New Orleans 135-110.
Antetokounmpo collected 29 factors and 10 boards within the first half alone, serving to the Bucks (33-17) construct an enormous lead early, and so they by no means trailed in Sunday’s dwelling match.
This was the Greek celebrity’s tenth recreation this season with no less than 40 factors, already tying the profession excessive for 40-point video games that he set final season.
“He made it look easy all night long,” Bucks ahead Khris Middleton stated after Milwaukee received a fourth straight to consolidate third place within the Eastern Conference standings.
“He’s playing efficient. He’s playing dominant. He’s playing unstoppable. He’s playing like the MVP again. We need that from him every night, and he knows that.”
In his 695th profession regular-season recreation, his 50 factors have been simply 5 off the profession excessive he set final month in a 123-113 victory over the Washington Wizards.
The league’s MVP in 2019 and 2020 shot 20-of-26 from the ground, together with 3-of-4 from three-point vary, and he went 7-of-12 on free-throw makes an attempt.
“I’m just going to keep creating the way people in the past created, the way I can go back and watch Magic Johnson highlights, Kevin Garnett highlights, Kobe Bryant highlights, Allen Iverson highlights, KD’s, LeBron’s,” Antetokounmpo stated.
“They’ve created so much art throughout the years, and we can go back and see it and admire what they did.”
New Orleans (26-24) have been lacking their high three scorers in Zion Williamson (hamstring), Brandon Ingram (toe) and CJ McCollum (thumb).
Australia’s Dyson Daniels was additionally absent on account of and ankle damage.
Jose Alvarado stepped as much as lead the Pels with 18 factors, whereas Trey Murphy III and Jonas Valanciunas had 16 every.
In Memphis, Ja Morant registered his second consecutive triple-double (27 factors, 15 assists, 10 rebounds), Jaren Jackson Jr added 28 factors because the host Grizzlies overcame a lacklustre first half to defeat the Indiana Pacers 112-100.
Turkey’s Cedi Osman tied his career-high with 29 factors, Darius Garland had 16 factors and 10 assists, and Cleveland led Los Angeles Clippers wire-to-wire for a 122-99 dwelling win.
In Charlotte, LaMelo Ball scored 13 of his 19 factors within the fourth quarter because the Hornets beat the Miami Heat 122-117.
Terry Rozier scored 31 factors, P.J. Washington added 27 and Gordon Hayward was an ideal 7-of-7 from the sphere for 20 factors for the hosts.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au