With Damian Lillard at the sideline due to a calf factor, Giannis Antetokounmpo took it upon himself to supply offense for the Milwaukee Bucks in Thursday night time’s matchup towards the Indiana Pacers. The two-time MVP publish an outstanding 54 issues, but dedicated two crucial late turnovers that cost Milwaukee in a 126-124 loss to Indiana.
Antetokounmpo was once as dominant as he is ever been in the primary 3 quarters, getting to the rim at will to gather layups, fouls — or each — because the Pacers looked for solutions. By the tip of the 3rd quarter, he had tallied 46 issues and seemed neatly on his method to surpassing his profession top of 55 set this previous January towards the Washington Wizards.
Credit is going to veteran trainer Rick Carlisle, alternatively, for making an important adjustment. Indiana started trapping Antetokounmpo at half-court in the fourth quarter, and sending a snappy double-team each time he stuck the ball in the post. It pressured the opposite Bucks avid gamers to have to give a contribution offensively, and served a secondary goal of taking the Greek Freak out of the super rhythm he had cultivated over the primary 3 quarters.
With simply over a minute left to play in the fourth quarter and the Bucks trailing through a unmarried level, Antetokounmpo was once as soon as once more trapped, and he seemed for Brook Lopez as a liberate valve. Lopez had a variety of room to function in the center of the ground, but Antetokounmpo’s move sailed neatly above the outstretched fingers of the 7-foot-1 Lopez, touchdown out of bounds for a turnover.
On the following Milwaukee ownership, Antetokounmpo attempted to bully his method to the basket, as he’d carried out numerous instances throughout the sport, and was once stripped through Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin.
The consecutive turnovers cost the Bucks dearly, because the Pacers sunk their loose throws and Milwaukee was once not able to shut the space.
Antetokounmpo’s missteps in the overall minute spotlight the absence of Lillard, who’s all the time ready and keen to begin late offense and deter warring parties from trapping and doubling Antetokounmpo. That’s precisely the explanation why Milwaukee mortgaged its long term — and removed a very good participant in Jrue Holiday — to convey in a confirmed nearer like Lillard in to play along Antetokounmpo.