On Monday, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks battled back from an early deficit to defeat the Sacramento Kings 133-124. He wouldn’t let his team lose.
Antetokounmpo started hot, scoring 15 points in the first quarter, after sitting out the previous three games due to a hand injury.
Despite his early heroics, the Kings still had a five-point advantage at the end of the first quarter, and they jumped out to a 49-33 lead after a 17-6 start to the second.
After that, the Bucks went on a 50-29 run to take control of the game. By the end of the third quarter, Antetokounmpo had amassed a gaudy stat line of 40 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists.
A wildly entertaining fourth period saw the teams combine for 80 points, with Khris Middleton scoring 14 of his 31 in what was his best game of the season.
The three-time All-Star’s 31 points were a season-high, shooting nine-of-15 from the field and adding nine assists.
He was the perfect sidekick for Antetokounmpo, who ended up scoring 46 points on 19-of-28 shooting, with 12 rebounds and four assists. It was his sixth game this season with at least 45 points, while no other player has more than Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid’s four.
The win is the Bucks’ 20th from their past 22 outings, improving their league-leading record to 49-19, while the 40-27 Kings fell to third in the West, overtaken by the 41-26 Memphis Grizzlies.