The best player in the league, Greek power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, gave an entire display of offensive play that allowed him to score 43 points and lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 125-15 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
The victory, the second in a row, left the Bucks at 4-3, the first time they have won it so far this season.
“It was the game that we had to win in order to remain undefeated in our field (3-0), consolidate teamwork and increase the confidence of the group,” said Antetokounmpo. “We are on the right track and soon we will have the solidity that we all want.”
The current Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the league finished the first half with 30 points, without the Pistons defense being able to control their inspiration.
Antetokounmpo finished the game with 17 baskets from 24 shots from the field, grabbed nine rebounds, distributed four assists and put up a block.
The Bucks have won their last eight regular-season meetings against the Pistons, representing the longest streak for any team in series history.
As usual, forward Khris Middleton was once again Antetokounmpo’s ideal partner by scoring another 19 points, which left him as the second-highest scorer for the Bucks who had six players with double-digit numbers, including three reserves.
The starting point guard Jrue Holiday began to define his figure as the new leader in the direction of the game and achieved 15 points, distributed seven assists, captured six rebounds and recovered three balls for just one loss.
Holiday’s best adaptation, was achieved by the Bucks at the winter break, has also been a positive factor in improving the Milwaukee team’s overall game.
While another point guard and also a new addition, DJAugustin, reached 11 points.
New to the squad, guard-forward Bryn Forbes and power forward Bobby Portis, like Augustin, scored 10 points each.
Milwaukee took a definitive lead midway through the first quarter and even enjoyed an 18-point margin, although Detroit cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth quarter.
The Bucks held a partial 118-110 lead, with just over two minutes remaining, when Antetokounmpo blocked a shot for a shot by French forward Sekou Doumbouya.
The league MVP wanted to keep his prominence to the maximum and in the next play in the basket of the Pistons he placed a spectacular dunk that put the lead back to 10 points (120-110) with less than two minutes left to conclude the match.
Antetokounmpo’s action left the Detroit team without reaction, which was no longer a threat or at least trying to force overtime.
The Pistons (1-6) could not count for the game with the starters, power forward Blake Griffin and forward Josh Jackson, two of their three best scorers.
The Detroit team decided to rest Griffin and protect his right knee, which underwent surgery, after playing 29 minutes the night before in a 120-122 loss to the Boston Celtics. Jackson has a sore right ankle.
Power forward Jerami Grant and point guard Derrick Rose finished as the Pistons’ leading scorers with 24 points each.
While Doumbouya, guard Wayne Ellington and Ukrainian forward Svi Mykhailiuk, 23, each contributed 13 points.
