Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 125-124 loss to the Phoenix Suns
By Dalton Sell
Third takeaway from loss to Phoenix Suns — Giannis Antetokounmpo’s big night not enough for the Milwaukee Bucks
With Holiday out, someone would have to step up and make up for his missing 16 points per game, and that person was Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP turned in his best effort of the season for the Bucks, doing everything he could to keep the ship afloat until the final buzzer.
Giannis scored a season-high 47 points on 15-of-23 shooting from the floor while grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out five assists. The Greek Freak had the opportunity to win the game for Milwaukee at the buzzer with a mid-ranger at the top of the key, but unfortunately, he just could not get it to fall. Despite the loss, this herculean performance by Antetokounmpo deserves praise, particularly looking at his numbers from the free-throw line.
Antetokounmpo was practically living at the line Wednesday night by shooting an astounding 21 attempts and connecting on 17 of them. After some grueling shooting pains early on, Giannis has shown improvement from the line as the season has progressed and is currently shooting 73.7 percent during Milwaukee’s recent 5-1 stretch.
Free throw shooting has been a prominent flaw of his for the past several years, and it has only worsened as he is currently shooting the worst percentage of his career at 61.6 on 9.7 attempts per game. If Giannis can build off this recent consistent shooting from the line, then he only makes this team much better, not just himself.
Next. 3 players that need to step up in Jrue Holiday’s absence. dark
Overall, it was a tough loss for the Milwaukee Bucks, but they will have no time to sulk as they are set to square off against the surging Utah Jazz Friday night.