MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo did not need to discuss in regards to the newest document the Milwaukee Bucks star added to his assortment Thursday night time.
The 2-time MVP as an alternative targeted on how the Bucks might cease their latest development of creating issues troublesome for themselves early in video games.
Two evenings after erasing a 19-point deficit on win 120-112 at Indiana, the Bucks fell behind by 24 factors earlier than virtually coming again inside a sport 113-110 defeat to the Brooklyn Nets.
“While you get down 20, that’s when the clock begins for us,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “We put ourselves in a gap and we battle our means out. That is asking an excessive amount of of everybody.
Antetokounmpo scored 27 factors on 12-of-24 taking pictures, however he missed a layup try that might have given Milwaukee the lead with simply over six seconds left.
He nonetheless made NBA historical past by scoring greater than 20 factors and taking pictures at the least 50% from the ground for a twenty sixth consecutive sport. Antetokounmpo had shared the document for consecutive video games scoring at the least 20 factors and taking pictures at the least 50% with Shaquille O’Neal and Zion Williamson.
O’Neal’s streak spanned from January to March 2001, whereas Williamson did it from February to April 2021. Antetokounmpo scored at the least 20 factors and shot at the least 50% in each sport he performed this season.
“I didn’t even comprehend it,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “I simply need to win. I play to win. That is my motto all 12 months spherical. I need to win. I do not care about the rest. I am simply attempting to make myself perceive that every one that issues is successful.
Antetokounmpo’s dynamism helped Milwaukee bounces again from a 2-8 begin to get above .500 and into playoff place, however the Bucks have taken a step again since win the NBA Cup final month. Since then, they’ve gone 3-4 and misplaced three of their final 4 video games.
The Bucks’ struggles got here partially as a result of Antetokounmpo missed 4 straight video games — two due to again spasms and two extra due to sickness. Milwaukee’s sluggish begin towards Indiana was comprehensible as a result of it was Antetokounmpo’s first sport again, and he wanted time to return to his common kind.
“We run out of steam very simply, particularly once we face a group like Indiana who’s going to assault within the first eight seconds,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “It takes time to search out the rhythm. »
The sluggish begin at residence Thursday was more durable to elucidate. Much more puzzling is Milwaukee’s season-long struggles towards the Nets, who ended a three-game skid.
Though the Nets are simply 13-21 this season, they’re 3-1 towards the Bucks. The final time the Nets beat the Bucks as many as thrice in the identical common season was in 2013-14.
“On the finish of the day, in a sport like this, it’s about particular person pleasure,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “It’s about who’s going to compete. Who will play more durable? I feel thrice out of 4 they performed more durable than us.
Milwaukee’s toughness over these final two video games has been commendable. The Bucks trailed 111-90 with lower than seven minutes remaining Thursday, however they did not permit one other subject aim the remainder of the sport and had the ball with an opportunity to take the lead.
However they nonetheless failed because of one other sluggish begin. They notice they can not afford to lose to most of these groups as they attempt to enhance their playoff positioning.
“Let’s not make the sport too difficult,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “We did not play nicely. They performed more durable than us in three out of 4 video games. We did not play sensible. And we simply have to return and watch the movie and be higher. That is about it.
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