Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo shouts instruction to teammates towards the Phoenix Suns in the course of the first half of an NBA basketball sport Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photograph/Jeffrey Phelps)
MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo instructed his Milwaukee Bucks teammates they had been combating for his or her lives.
They responded by capturing for the best single-game share by any staff this century.
Milwaukee snapped a four-game skid by capturing a franchise-record 68.9% (51 of 74) from the ground in a 133-123 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday evening. In line with Sportradar, no staff had shot for that prime a share in a sport since March 13, 1998, when the Los Angeles Clippers shot 69.3% (61 of 88) in a 152-120 overcome the Toronto Raptors.
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“I stored saying to my teammates, ‘We’re combating for our lives. We’re combating for our lives,’ ” Antetokounmpo stated. “They assume I’m joking, however I’m not joking. We’re combating for our lives proper right here. Each win counts.”
The Bucks are sixth within the Japanese Convention standings and on observe for his or her lowest playoff seed since 2018. They had been coming off a 145-124 loss to Atlanta wherein they allowed probably the most factors they’d given up all season. They don’t know when — or if — seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard will return from the deep vein thrombosis in his proper calf that has him taking blood-thinning remedy.
So that they wanted a win badly. They responded by making shot after shot.
Every of the eight Bucks who took the ground Tuesday shot at the very least 50%. Antetokounmpo had 37 factors, 11 assists and 6 rebounds whereas capturing 12 of 18, however he wasn’t a one-man gang.
Giannis was an absolute FORCE for the Bucks of their win over the Suns!
💪 37 PTS
💪 11 AST
💪 5 REB
💪 3 STL pic.twitter.com/J65qO0aYTq— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2025
Ryan Rollins shot 8 of 10 total and 5 of seven from 3-point vary whereas scoring 23 factors. Brook Lopez celebrated his thirty seventh birthday by capturing 10 of 13 and scoring 22 factors. The Bucks made a season-high 58.6% of their 3-point makes an attempt (17 of 29).
“I feel we had been a bit disillusioned in our offense the previous few video games,” Lopez stated. “I feel we received again to shifting it, sharing it, trusting it, actually making the most of our dimension in transition, getting the ball into the paint and simply enjoying off that.”
Antetokounmpo, as typical, led the best way.
“I knew coming into this sport, each time I see cracks, I’ve received to take them as a result of I’m not going to have loads of alternatives to be aggressive,” Antetokounmpo stated. “Once I don’t have cracks, most likely anyone’s going to be huge open, so I’ve simply received to look to the fitting or the left of me and make the fitting play.”
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In addition to the Bucks shot the ball, they practically blew a 21-point, second-half benefit. Phoenix had lowered the margin to 4 factors earlier than Rollins hit a 3-pointer with 1:09 left to get the Bucks out of hazard.
Phoenix stayed shut as a result of Milwaukee dedicated 20 turnovers. The Suns took 18 extra pictures than the Bucks and outscored them 24-3 in second-chance factors.
“My intestine is they’d a type of nights,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer stated. “I assumed defensively our effort, our (will to) compete was at a really excessive degree. … The basket was huge for them tonight.”
The Bucks adopted an identical script Sunday, after they shot 69% within the first half however nonetheless trailed 82-75 on the break due to their eight turnovers and struggles on protection.
“We’re so near being an unimaginable offensive staff,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers stated. “We shoot 70% the primary half the opposite evening. We shot 68.9 tonight. If we will rebound the ball and maintain the ball, we’ve received an opportunity to interrupt out and make a hell of a run right here. We actually do.”
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At the least this time, the Bucks discovered a method to win — even when it took a document efficiency.
“I undoubtedly wanted a win,” Antetokounmpo stated. “I feel if you win, you take pleasure in your sleep higher. You take pleasure in your meals higher. You take pleasure in spending time along with your children and the whole lot higher. You take pleasure in interacting along with your teammates extra. I’m a sore loser. I’m not going to lie. We undoubtedly wanted a win.”
