During the Thursday night NBA slate, the Milwaukee Bucks overcame a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter of their 106-105 win over the LA Clippers. Giannis Antetokounmpo fueled that late rally by scoring 20 of his 54 points during the final period.
“Tomorrow I think I’m going to go to Culver’s,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’ll go get 50 cheeseburgers and try to eat as many as I can. The rest, I’ll have my son eat them, or I give them to my dog.”
During the last 11 games, Antetokounmpo has scored at least 50 points in three of them. Against Washington, he scored 55 points in a 123-113 victory on Jan. 3, and against New Orleans, he scored 50 points in 30 minutes. He has averaged 40.2 points and 14.5 rebounds over his last six games.
It is now Antetokounmpo’s sixth consecutive regular-season game in which he has scored 50 points or more. It doesn’t include his 50-point outburst in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals, which gave the Bucks their first championship since 1971. His three 50-point games in a season tie him with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most in Bucks history.
“It’s a great compliment to be up there with Kareem,” Antetokounmpo said. “Man, I never thought I was going to score 50 in the NBA when I got drafted. It’s an insane, crazy journey.”
NBA SCORES & NEWS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks & LA Clippers Updates
In the last 2:13 of the game, Antetokounmpo missed two free throws to give Milwaukee a 105-104 lead. Even so, the Bucks’ next possession saw him drive to the basket again, draw Ivica Zubac’s sixth foul, and make both free throws. With 1:47 remaining, he hit two free throws that put Milwaukee up 106-105 for their first lead since the second quarter.
“He’s relentless,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “He’s going to put himself in position to help us win. Whatever it takes for us to win, he’s going to do it. He’s fearless and relentless. That’s what you saw going down the stretch.”
There were a couple of Milwaukee turnovers in the closing seconds that the Clippers failed to capitalize on. With Pat Connaughton and Wesley Matthews helping to guard him, Kawhi Leonard missed a long 18-footer in the final second.
“I’ve been doing that since my mom told me I’ve got to guard the best player when I was 4 years old,” Matthews said. “That’s just who I am. Nothing but respect for those guys. I feel like those guys have that same (respect) toward me. The best way to pay them respect is to try and stop them. The best way they can pay me respect is to go after me.”
NBA SCORES & NEWS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks & LA Clippers Updates
There were plenty of opportunities for the Clippers to regain the lead. With 27.1 seconds left, Paul George stole the ball from Jrue Holiday, and the Clippers called a timeout, but Leonard missed a jumper. With 15.1 seconds remaining, Antetokounmpo threw the rebound out of bounds, giving Los Angeles possession. Leonard missed once more for the Clippers after receiving the ball again.
“We wanted to run it to Connaughton, but they switched the matchup,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “They brought Matthews into it. He did a good job of climbing into Kawhi, making him uncomfortable and making him back up a little bit so he couldn’t get right downhill.”
The Clippers were led by Norman Powell’s 26 points. Leonard recorded 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, but he shot 7 of 26 from the field. Marcus Morris and George each scored 16 points. A total of 12 points and 13 rebounds were recorded by Zubac.
NBA SCORES & NEWS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks & LA Clippers Updates
For the Bucks, Khris Middleton scored 16 points and Holiday added 12. Early on, Holiday missed all eight shots he took, and he didn’t score until late in the third quarter.
