Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo added yet another accomplishment to his amazing career, notching his fifth career 50-point game as the Bucks beat the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
Antetokounmpo scored 50 points and grabbed 13 rebounds on 20-of-26 shooting in just 30 minutes of play, to fuel the 135-110 victory.
“We might as well do it in front of everybody,” Bucks guard Jrue Holiday said of the on-court team celebration of Antetokounmpo’s performance, according to ESPN’s Andrew Lopez. “It’s really just to show how much we appreciate him. For him to go out there and do that is amazing no matter how many times you score 50 points.”
“It’s a great time,” Holiday said. “Everybody just kind of gets on his shoulders and we’re just along for the ride. At that point, we just got to support him. If he passes it to us, make the shot. But for the most part, we know who’s going to carry us.”
“He came on the court with his usual determination,” Bucks center Brook Lopez said. “He didn’t settle. He was getting to the rim in ways only he could and finishing. Those are tough finishes, and he was still getting them done.”
Antetokounmpo said that he was aware he was close to the 50 point mark as he was hoisting up three-point shots late in the game.
“I knew that if I was able to get the rebound, I was going to shoot,” Antetokounmpo said. “It doesn’t always work out, but tonight it did. I didn’t hesitate at all. I was able to get my legs under my shot. Stayed there and just watched the ball go in.
“It’s one of those moments you can never take for granted because you never know when you’re going to have those moments again.”
“Tonight, I think 50 on 26 shots is impressive,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Just everything he did, his aggressiveness. A couple 3s, especially late. But he’s shooting it well. Feels like a few more catch and shoots is something if we can generate a few of those for him and build the confidence in that area, keep getting to the free throw line and working on that, those are areas where he’s improving.”
