Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a performance for the record books—again. During the Philadelphia 76ers vs Milwaukee Bucks game, Antetokounmpo created discussion among fans with his stunning performance. In Thursday’s 126-113 victory over the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers, Giannis became the first player in NBA history to record at least 35 points, 20 assists, and 17 rebounds in a single game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered one of the most complete stat lines of the season during his historic night against the Philadelphia 76ers. In just under 39 minutes on the floor, the Bucks’ forward racked up 35 points while shooting an efficient 63.2% from the field, going 12-of-19 and even hitting his only 3-point attempt. He also converted 10 of his 11 free throws. Antetokounmpo was dominant on the glass as well, pulling down 17 total rebounds while dishing out a career-high 20 assists. He contributed 2 steals and managed to stay out of foul trouble with zero personal fouls. Antetokounmpo turned the ball over just twice and finished with a game-high plus-minus of +23. Tonight’s record at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia made him the first NBA player to achieve the record.
The 76ers, playing without their top starters, had no answers. At one point, they led the game, but the Bucks stormed back behind their superstar’s all-around brilliance. Giannis effectively carried the offense on a night when All-Star guard Damian Lillard was still sidelined due to deep vein thrombosis. Giannis currently leads the league in both made field goals and free throws attempted per game.
Brook Lopez added 17 points, Kyle Kuzma contributed 16, and sharpshooter AJ Green knocked down four triples for 12 points. The night wasn’t without drama on the bench either, as Bucks head coach Doc Rivers exited mid-game due to illness, leaving assistant Darvin Ham to take the reins. Despite the loss, the 76ers had a few bright spots. Rookie Adem Bona was impressive with a career-high 28 points on 13-for-15 shooting. Quentin Grimes chipped in 24 points and 10 assists, while Guerschon Yabusele added 22.
Antetokounmpo already has several accolades to his name, including 1 NBA Championship, 2 NBA MVP awards, 1 Finals MVP, and 1 Defensive Player of the Year. The Greek Freak also has 9 All-Star selections to his credit.
The Milwaukee Bucks eventually defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 126-113. Giannis stuffed the stat sheet with a 35-17-20 triple double while Adem Bona scored a career-high 28 points for the 76ers. The Sixers started out hot inside (Adem Bona) and out (Jared Butler), forcing the Bucks to call a timeout down 15-6. Milwaukee played smarter without Giannis to get within four, but a Philly run ballooned their lead to 17. A three-pointer from AJ Green ended a 13-point run from the Sixers for a “respectable” 39-25 game after one.
Much better to start the second: a 15-point run for the away team (18 across quarters), featuring heady improvement on both sides of the ball. They would mostly keep a single-digit lead through the middle of the quarter, with Philly trading off between Quentin Grimes buckets and turnovers. It was frustrating, to say the least, but Milwaukee would end the half with a 61-59 advantage.
The muddling would continue in the third. A 10-point run propelled the Bucks to a game-high lead of 10, but it evaporated quickly. Then again, minus the evaporation: muddling and another good run, ending the frame with a 96-87 advantage. A much better couple of quarters from Giannis, earning a triple-double for his trouble, and nice minutes from Gary Trent Jr. as well.
A mixed bag of Giannis kept the Bucks in front to start the final quarter. They would finally grow their lead to double digits, hitting 16 in the middle of the frame. Nick Nurse got ejected LOL. Milwaukee would play with their food for a little after that before putting their foot on the gas and leaving Philadelphia with a win.
Stat That Stood Out: Giannis registered a career-high 20 assists. Exactly what you need sans Dame. The Bucks shot 51.6% from 3-point range, showcasing their offensive prowess. This impressive performance comes on the heels of their previous game on Tuesday against Phoenix, where they shot an astounding 68.9% from the field, the highest in an NBA game since 1998, and 58.6% from 3-point range.
Antetokounmpo is the third player this season to have 30 points and 20 assists in a game, according to ESPN Research. Nikola Jokic and Trae Young are the others. Antetokounmpo is also the third player in Bucks history to have at least 20 assists in a game, joining Ramon Sessions, who had 24 in 2008, and Guy Rodgers, who had 21 in 1968. His 20 assists were also a career high.
When asked about his performance, Antetokounmpo stated, "When you're the primary ball handler, you just gotta keep on making good decisions for the team. I feel like most of the time, I try to make the best decision for myself or for my teammates."
Bucks coach Doc Rivers left the bench in the first half due to illness, and assistant Darvin Ham took over. Ham said Antetokounmpo had to be more of a distributor without Damian Lillard, who is sidelined with deep vein thrombosis. "Giannis has to think more like a point forward," Ham said. "And he's already built like that. So, it's not too much of a challenge for him. It's just now, you know, him understanding the organization, making sure we're in the right spots, making sure our timing is on point and the ball is moving when it's supposed to move on time or target."
On the other side, the 76ers have been struggling, having lost 10 straight games and standing at 3-25 since February 5. Already without Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George, reserve guard Lonnie Walker IV limped off in the third quarter, further complicating their situation. Coach Nick Nurse was ejected in the fourth quarter, adding to the drama of the night.
Key Moment: The 76ers led 39-25 after one quarter, but a 15-0 Bucks run to start the second erased that lead. The teams went back and forth until an 11-2 run to end the third broke an 85-all tie.
Key Stat: The win was Rivers’ 1,156th regular-season coaching victory, breaking a tie with Phil Jackson for seventh in NBA history. He picked up 236 wins with the 76ers from 2020-23. Up next, both teams will play on Saturday. The 76ers will host Minnesota, while Milwaukee continues a three-game trip in Miami.
