The Indiana Pacers rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to spoil Giannis Antetokounmpo’s season-high 54-point night, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 126-124 Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Antetokounmpo finished with 54 points — a season high across the league and one point off from tying his career high — 12 rebounds and three assists.
- Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton had a double-double with a team-high 29 points, 10 assists and six rebounds on 10-of-17 shooting.
- Antetokounmpo was three points shy of Michael Redd’s Bucks franchise record of 57 points, set on Nov. 11, 2006 against the Utah Jazz.
The Bucks lost this game. pic.twitter.com/HfW6O6Wpzk
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) November 10, 2023
Giannis’ efficient night not enough
The two-time league MVP has gotten out to a slow start this season as a scorer as Milwaukee has tried to figure out how to integrate Damian Lillard into the fold. Before tonight’s game, Antetokounmpo was averaging only 24.4 points per game, which would be his lowest scoring average since his fourth NBA season, but tonight will boost that number a bit.
Antetokounmpo was incredibly efficient Thursday night. To get his 54-point tally, he took only 25 shot attempts. On top of that, Antetokounmpo was hitting just 62.5 percent from the free-throw line entering tonight’s game, but the free-throw line was incredibly friendly to him against the Pacers as he knocked down 16 of 18. — Eric Nehm, Bucks beat writer
Highlight of the game
Splits the defense.
Euro step.
Bucket AND the foul.GIANNIS HAS 54😲
📺 MIL/IND – 4Q LIVE on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/FA9N7FEkfi
— NBA (@NBA) November 10, 2023
Required reading
(Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today)