Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 121-86 Game 1 win over Detroit Pistons

King’s landing

With all eyes on him entering his fourth postseason, particularly as the favorite to win this year’s Most Valuable Player award, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo put in a performance that’s been characteristic of his season this year.

Playing nearly 23-and-a-half minutes of action, Antetokounmpo finished with a game-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field (1-of-5 from three, 5-of-12 from the free throw line), 17 rebounds, four assists, one turnover, one steal and was a +30 on the night.

All throughout his shifts, Antetokounmpo bullied and frustrated the Pistons, specifically former Bucks big man Thon Maker, on his way to the basket and, in some cases, the free throw line. The frustration that came because of Antetokounmpo’s relentless attacking of the bucket came to a head when Pistons center Andre Drummond two-armed shoved the three-time All-Star midway through the third quarter, which helped him earn a flagrant two foul and an ejection.

Antetokounmpo was all encompassing crashing the glass to corral any and all of the Pistons’ misses that were in his vicinity. He was also very willing to let it fly from three-point range, but only hit on one of his five tries for the contest.

Even only playing half of the game, Antetokounmpo’s imprint was all over the Bucks’ performance and ensuing blowout victory and there will certainly be more of that doled out throughout the rest of the series and in the postseason.