“Left block, right block, transition, rim run, off the dribble,” said Antetokounmpo, who had 13 rebounds and eight assists. “Roll, pop—play random basketball. I suppose guarding and loading are harder.”Antetokounmpo shot 87.0% from the field, the most in a game by a player with at least 20 attempts since Mike Woodson of the Kansas City Kings went 22 of 24 (91.7%) in a 48-point game against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 20, 1983.
Unstoppable,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said. “He is unstoppable.”
Antetokounmpo doubted it.
“I wish it was easy,” he remarked. “I wish I could score 42 every game, but it’s hard. You must work hard to get comfortable, in your rhythm, in your spot, playmaking for yourself and your teammates. It’s hard.”
Washingtоn (2-11) lost its sixth straight but fought hard against the Bucks. After Corey Kispert’s layup with 10:02 left in the fourth, the Wizards led by a point, but Antetokounmpo scored to open Milwaukee’s 15-3 rally.
The Bucks (10-4) joined Boston and Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference’s top tier after a slow start. After the Bucks’ fourth-quarter rally, Milwaukee kept the Wizards at bay despite Washingtоn’s 55% shooting.
Griffin stated, “I didn’t like much about our defense. “Until the end, we could string some stops. It was hard.”
Washingtоn’s Jordan Poole scored 30 points and Kyle Kuzma recorded 22 points and 13 assists. The Wizards had only four turnovers, and the Bucks scored nothing.
Damian Lillard scored 22 Bucks points. Khris Middleton scored 18 to pass Sidney Moncrief for fourth on Milwaukee’s career scoring chart. He trails only Antetokounmpo, Abdul-Jabbar, and Robinson.
“It’s cool, but he’s not catching me,” Antetokounmpo smiled. “His path is long. No, but it’s great.”
The Bucks shot 58.5% FG. Bobby Portis had 17, Brook Lopez and Malik Beasley 16.
“We needed everybody tonight,” Griffin said. “We played well overall, but you can’t keep a team like that around. Anyone can beаt you any night.”
142 Milwaukee 31 39 34 38