Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 59 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 127-120 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.
It was Antetokounmpo’s ninth game with 50 or more points and his second-highest scoring game ever, behind his 64-point performance against Indiana last season. He made 21 of 34 shots, 16 of 17 free throws, and added 14 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks. Brook Lopez also helped the Bucks with 29 points.
For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham scored 35 points and dished out 11 assists, while Malik Beasley added 26 points, including eight 3-pointers.
Antetokounmpo’s huge performance almost ended in heartbreak when he was called for a foul with one second left in regulation, tying the game at 111. That sent Ronald Holland to the free-throw line. Bucks coach Doc Rivers challenged the foul call, but it was not overturned.
Holland missed both free throws, sending the game into overtime, where Antetokounmpo took control with 11 points.
From the beginning, Antetokounmpo was unstoppable, scoring 22 points in the first quarter. However, the rest of the Bucks had little offense, and they were 0-for-12 from the field, except for two free throws by Lopez.
Beasley had a strong second quarter, making several 3-pointers, including one at the end of a 7-0 run that gave Detroit a 60-47 lead at halftime. The Pistons made 8 of 13 three-pointers in the first half.
Detroit’s lead grew to 18 points in the third quarter, but the Bucks started to fight back, helped by the ejection of Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart with 3:02 left. Stewart had pulled Antetokounmpo to the ground by his jersey.
Lopez hit a 30-foot 3-pointer to close out the third, capping a 33-14 run and giving Milwaukee its first lead of the game. Lopez continued to contribute, hitting another 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter and blocking Cunningham’s dunk attempt.
