By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 55 points in a return from a one-game absence and the Milwaukee Bucks beat Washington 123-113.
Antetokounmpo has scored at least 40 points in three straight games for the first time in his career. The only other Bucks to score at least 40 points in three straight appearances are Flynn Robinson in February 1969 and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in February 1972.
The Greek Freak also had 10 rebounds and seven assists, giving him at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in his last three games. The only other players in NBA history to have three straight performances of 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists are Elgin Baylor in 1961 and 1963, Wilt Chamberlain in 1963, and Russell Westbrook in 2016.
Antetokounmpo’s previous career high was a 52-point effort against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 17, 2019. This was Antetokounmpo’s second performance with at least 50 points since Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals when his 50-point effort gave the Bucks their first title in half a century. Antetokounmpo also scored 50 in a 128-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 15, 2022.
Latvian Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 points for the Wizards, and Israeli Deni Avdija added 12 on his birthday, but couldn’t do much against Giannis.
Brook Lopez added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, and Bobby Portis had 17 points and 13 rebounds.