Giannis Antetokounmpo gets revenge on the Wizards with a career high!

With these same Wizards committed for their first game in 2023, the Bucks will obviously want to redeem themselves for a second straight matchup, with the return of Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The locals were determined to react, and the circle felt it after Pat Connaughton and Giannis Antetokounmpo passed early in the game. Jrue Holiday’s two 3-pointers allowed the Bucks to take control after 12 minutes of play (32-28).

Unbeaten for five matches, Washington also thrived on confidence and never missed an opportunity to show it. This particular 15-2 run was marked by a 3-point basket by the Morris-Kispert-Porzingis trio to allow DC to get back in front (46-49). The Bucks reacted quickly, led by an unreliable Giannis Antetokounmpo: 15-0 before the break to finish at +12 (61-49)!

Despite the good passing of Brook Lopez or Bobby Portis, Milwaukee nevertheless struggled to put the Wizards out of harm’s way for good. The scenario was repeated after returning from the locker room because even at -14 (65-51), Washington found the resources to return to contact.

In particular, there were 3-pointers from Kristaps Porzingis, Corey Kispert and Rui Hachimura, then two baskets by Daniel Gafford that completely started the match at the beginning of the last action (90-85).

The locals persisted and Washington finally cracked. To accompany the destructive enterprise of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez was decisive, starting the period with a 3-pointer and a dunk, then with two consecutive dunks with two rebounds (109-102).

The “Greek Freak” finished the Wizards with two shots and a 2 + 1 to reach 50 points (116-104) and guide his team to the final victory, 123 to 113.

WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER

– Giannis Antetokounmpo has started the year well. Giannis Antetokounmpo was hit on the knee in the previous confrontation between the two teams, and obviously Giannis Antetokounmpo has recovered well! On a mission from the start of the match, the interior continued to hit the opposing racket, relying on its power and transfer game to prove that it was not played in sequences. In a fourth quarter struggling to settle, the “Greek Freak” forced the decision almost single-handedly by scoring 19 points during the period, thus offering his new career high at 55 stitches.

– Bad luck for Beal. The number 13 will not bring him luck as the leader of the Wizards will only stay 13 minutes on the floor. With a strained hamstring, Bradley Beal finally returned for the second half. It’s the same injury that forced him to miss the previous two matches. At the very end of the game, Daniel Gafford, who was visibly injured in his right arm, also left his teammates.

TOPS/FLOPS

✅ Giannis Antetokounmpo. A first fight in 2023 bodes well for the “Greek Freak”. Unforgettable dunks, great efficiency near the circle and gaps every time. On the verge of sealing his new career record with a monumental dunk, which ultimately missed, he took advantage of a Kristaps Porzingis as active cone in the final due to his 5 personal fouls, to end the game with 55 points. , a new record to beat.

✅ The Portis-Lopez pair. The two main lieutenants of Giannis Antetokounmpo in this match, are important to bring some alternation in the attack in the absence of Khris Middleton but also to ensure the rebound because they took more than half of the Bucks between them. Also note Brook Lopez’s 6 blocks, two of them at the very end of the game to complete a fourth quarter where he was brilliant.

⛔️ Kyle Kuzma. 28 shots were attempted! We really got the impression that he was dragging his spleen as the match progressed. One zero point on six unassisted 3-point attempts. Worried?

THE FOLLOWING

Milwaukee (23-13): in “back-to-back”, the Bucks are expected in Toronto this Wednesday (1:30 am).

Washington (17-21): the Wizards will finish their road trip this Friday in OKC (2:00 am).