By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a triple-double in a losing effort for the Milwaukee Bucks on NBA Sundays.
Playing through a nasal fracture, Isaiah Hartenstein netted 24 points, a new personal best in the NBA, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder dominate in a win, 121-105, in Fiserv Forum.
“I am more of looking at my assists some times,” the 26-year-old German center downplayed his career high during a postgame press conference following the victory in Milwaukee.
Over 32 minutes as the starting center of Mark Daigneault, Hartenstein made 11/15 field goals. His 24 points followed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 on the scoring table. Grabbing 12 rebounds, he shaped his 25th double-double in the 2024-25 Regular Season. He also dished out three assists.
Further European options for the Thunder were limited to the injury list. French Ousmane Dieng is out with a left calf strain. Belgian Ajay Mitchell and Serbian Nikola Topic are rehabbing after undergoing great toe surgery and left knee surgery, respectively.
Listed as probable with right knee tendinopathy, the Greek superstar of the Bucks settled at 21 points, 12 rebounds, and two assists in his 52nd career triple-double. Lasting nearly 36 minutes, he added two blocks and one steal.
“They’re one of the disciplined teams. They did it for 48 minutes,” he reacted to the home loss, “With a team like that, you just gotta keep on finding the angles, keep on trying to be aggressive, keep on trying to make plays either for yourself or for your teammates.”