Bucks Film Room: How Giannis Antetokounmpo Dropped 59 Points
All the ingredients for a Milwaukee Bucks loss were there on Wednesday night. Fifth game in seven days? Check. Second night of a back-to-back? Check. Missing Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Bobby Portis? Triple check. But Milwaukee had one thing working in its favor: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo wasn't in the mood to let Milwaukee off the hook with a loss. He poured in 59 points, dragging the Bucks to an overtime win over the Detroit Pistons and securing their first back-to-back wins of the season.
In the process, he sent a reminder to the league that, even without his All-Star teammates, he's enough to tip the scales.
While the Bucks still have a long way to go to dig themselves out of their early-season struggles, let's take a moment to appreciate the sheer force of nature that was Giannis on Wednesday night.
On his way to that 59-point eruption, Antetokounmpo shot an astounding 21-of-31 (61.8 percent) from the field and hit 16 of 17 free throws. Meanwhile, the rest of the Bucks shot just 39.3 percent, making only 24 of 61 attempts.
The Pistons' defensive scheme—or lack thereof—played a major role in his success. Despite witnessing the demolition in real-time, Detroit stubbornly refused to double-team him or build a wall at the rim. Instead, they left Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, and others to fend for themselves. Let's just say it didn't end well for them.
Above, Harris was left on an island. Rather than send help, Detroit seemed content to watch Antetokounmpo back him down, spin baseline, and finish with a reverse layup without a lick of help sent Harris's way.
Then there was Paul Reed, who got his turn in the mismatch nightmare. Known more for his hustle than his defensive prowess, Reed got bulldozed under the basket, giving up a lightly contested dunk.
And Duren? He was caught flat-footed in isolation at the free-throw line, doing his best to stay in front but still surrendering an easy seven-foot floater. The Pistons' approach to defending Giannis felt less like a strategy and more like wishful thinking.
Once Antetokounmpo had Detroit reeling, he went to work on his mid-range game, showing off a jumper that has suddenly become a passable weapon.
This season, Giannis is hitting 46.2 percent of his pull-up twos—a mark that puts above Jamal Murray, Donovan Mitchell, and Luka Doncic. Against the Pistons, he went 5-for-9 on pull-up twos outside the paint.
The fact he's hitting these at a respectable clip changes how defenders have to approach him. They can't just sag off and wait for him to barrel into the paint anymore. This slight improvement in his shooting has opened up his driving lanes, making him even more of a nightmare to guard.
Antetokounmpo's offensive clinic didn't end with isolation plays or pull-up jumpers. He also took on the role of primary ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations, partnering up with Pat Connaughton and Gary Trent Jr. for a series of successful plays.
Say what you will about Connaughton's struggles over the last couple of seasons, but his chemistry with Antetokounmpo is undeniable. Connaughton knows how to position his screens to set Giannis up perfectly for his downhill drives.
Here, he came from the dunker's spot to set a pick, flipping it at the last second just as Antetokounmpo hesitated and crossed over to the same side. The combination threw the defense into chaos, and Giannis cruised to an easy layup.
For all the talk about Antetokounmpo being a "run-and-dunk" player, his performance against the Pistons was a testament to how multi-dimensional his game has become. He handled the ball in pick-and-rolls, hit pull-up jumpers, and attacked the rim with surgical precision. It was a night when every piece of his offensive arsenal was on display, and Milwaukee needed every bit of it.
After this monster night, Antetokounmpo now leads the NBA in scoring at 33.3 points per game—three points ahead of the next-highest player. It's a testament to his relentless drive and a reminder of just how dominant he is.
When Lillard, Middleton, and Portis return, the Bucks won't need him to shoulder such a massive scoring load every night. But until then, he's more than willing to carry the burden, even if it means dropping 59 points on a weary back-to-back to snatch a win.
Milwaukee may have had a ready-made list of excuses for a loss in Detroit—second night of a back-to-back, missing key players, fatigue. But they only needed one reason to win: Giannis.
He refused to let the Bucks falter, injecting life into the team with a masterclass that reminded everyone why he's a two-time MVP. As long as he's healthy and determined, Milwaukee's title hopes are still very much alive.
