Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 12 of his career-high 18 points in the fourth quarter Saturday to lift the Milwaukee Bucks to an unlikely victory over the previously undefeated Memphis Grizzlies.
The Greek sophomore caught fire late, hitting 4-of-5 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the line in the game's final frame as the Bucks made a five-point comeback against a stout Grizzlies defense. Antetokounmpo brought the game within two, tied it and then put Milwaukee ahead within the last five minutes, scoring eight of the team's final 14 points.
It's a nice coming out for Antetokounmpo, who has gotten off to a solid start to his second NBA campaign, taking some nice strides forward from his rookie season.
| Season | MPG | FG% | PPG | RPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 24.6 | 41.40% | 6.8 | 4.4 |
| 2014-15 | 23.4 | 51.90% | 10.4 | 4.6 |
It was Brandon Knight, though, who sealed the game with three of his 14 points coming with just 1.1 seconds on the clock.
The Bucks as a whole played an impressive game, stepping up on the defensive end and holding Memphis to 35.4 percent shooting and just three 3-point shots. Only 34 trips to the line kept Memphis in control throughout, while their vaunted defense was unable to keep a balanced Milwaukee attack in check.
Memphis's loss leaves Golden State as the league's lone undefeated team, and the Bucks find themselves somewhat unexpectedly at 3-4. It's an encouraging start for a young team, with a new coach, that's heavy on raw talent but light on success so far.