Giannis Antetokounmpo’s response to being ejected from the Milwaukee Bucks win against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night was to drop a whopping 54 points on the road against the Indiana Pacers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse a day later.
However, the Greek-Nigerian was still on the losing end as the Bucks, who were without seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard due to calf soreness, were beaten 126-124 for their third loss of the regular season.
All-time effort.
????: @paysbig pic.twitter.com/vHkAVVJjv2
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 10, 2023
Antetokounmpo finished the game with a double-double, as his 12 rebounds were a game-high number, but he also had eight turnovers—two in the final minutes, which cost them the game in Indiana.
The 28-year-old finished just a point shy of his career-high and three points shy of the Bucks franchise record held by Michael Redd, but his 54-point performance currently leads the NBA for points in a game this season, beating Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine, who scored 51 points against the Pistons on October 28.
Giannis, who scored 26 points in the first half with 18 in the first quarter and 28 points in the second half, shot 19 of 25 from the field, converted 16 of his 18 free throws, and dished out three assists in his third double-double game of the season.
Khris Middleton had 19 points; Malik Beasley poured in 13 points and three 3s; and Bobby Portis added 11 points and eight rebounds from the bench.
Fought until the end. pic.twitter.com/xYgcYXTyfZ
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 10, 2023
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 29 points, 10 assists, and five 3-pointers in his seventh game of the season with at least 10 or more dimes. Canadian forward Bennedict Mathurin added 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers, who blew an early 18-point lead and then had to rally from 10 down in the fourth quarter.
Myles Turner added 21 points and 6 rebounds along with pouring in four 3s for the Pacers, who enjoyed a superb shooting night, converting 48% of their field goal attempts.
The Bucks fall to a 5-3 record and drop into fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, while the Pacers improve to 6-3 and move up to third. Milwaukee will play the Magic next at the Amway Center in Orlando on Saturday night, but the Pacers will not be in action until Sunday, when they make a trip to the Wells Fargo Center to take on the conference leaders, the Philadelphia 76ers.
