Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t want to focus on the latest record he set on Thursday night. The Milwaukee Bucks star was more concerned about finding a way to stop the team’s pattern of slow starts in games.
Just two nights after coming back from a 19-point deficit to win 120-112 at Indiana, the Bucks fell behind by 24 points against the Brooklyn Nets before nearly completing a comeback in a 113-110 loss.
“When you go down 20, that’s when the clock starts for us,” Antetokounmpo said. “We put ourselves in a hole and just dig our way out of the hole. It takes too much out of everybody.”
Antetokounmpo scored 27 points on 12-of-24 shooting, but he missed a driving layup attempt that would have put Milwaukee ahead with just over six seconds left.
Even so, he made NBA history by scoring 20 or more points and shooting at least 50% from the field in 26 consecutive games. He had previously shared the record for most consecutive games with at least 20 points and 50% shooting with Shaquille O’Neal and Zion Williamson.
O’Neal’s streak lasted from January to March in 2001, and Williamson’s went from February to April in 2021. Antetokounmpo has achieved this in every game he’s played this season.
“I didn’t even know that,” Antetokounmpo said. “I just want to win. I play to win. This is my motto all year long. I want to win. I don’t care about nothing else. I just try to build in my mind that all that matters is winning.”
Antetokounmpo’s determination has helped the Bucks recover from a 2-8 start to climb back above .500 and into playoff contention. However, the team has struggled since winning the NBA Cup last month, going 3-4 in their last seven games and losing three of their last four.
One reason for their struggles was Antetokounmpo missing four straight games due to back spasms and illness. The Bucks’ slow start against Indiana was understandable, as it was Antetokounmpo’s first game back, and he needed time to get back to his usual form.
“You get very easily out of breath, especially when you’re playing a team like Indiana that’s going to attack in the first eight seconds,” Antetokounmpo said. “It takes time for you to get in rhythm.”
The slow start against Brooklyn on Thursday was harder to explain. What’s even more puzzling is Milwaukee’s ongoing difficulties against the Nets, who had just ended a three-game losing streak.
Even though the Nets have a 13-21 record this season, they’re 3-1 against the Bucks. The last time the Nets won three games against the Bucks in a regular season was in 2013-14.
“At the end of the day, in a game like this, it’s about individual pride,” Antetokounmpo said. “It’s about who’s going to compete. Who’s going to play harder? I think three out of the four times, they’ve played harder than us.”
Despite the slow start, the Bucks showed strong determination in the final stretch of the game. They trailed 111-90 with less than seven minutes remaining but didn’t allow another basket and had a chance to take the lead with the ball. However, they still came up short due to their earlier struggles.
Antetokounmpo emphasized that the team couldn’t afford to lose to teams like the Nets as they fight to improve their playoff standing.
“Let’s not over-complicate the game,” Antetokounmpo said. “We did not play well. They played harder than us in three out of the four games. We did not play smart. And we’ve just got to go back, watch the film and be better. That’s pretty much it.”
