What a monster! Antetokounmpo scores 64 in stormy Bucks win
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 14.12.23. | 11:32
The player of African origins recorded both personal high and franchise record
Giannis Antetokounmpo erupted for a career-high 64 points as the Milwaukee Bucks avenged last week's in-season tournament exit to the Indiana Pacers with an ill-tempered 140-126 victory on Wednesday.
Former NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo was in scintillating form, shooting 20-of-28 from the field with 14 rebounds, three assists and four steals as the clash between the two highest-scoring teams in the NBA lived up to its billing.
WHAT A NIGHT FOR GIANNIS.
— NBA (@NBA) December 14, 2023
64 PTS IS A NEW CAREER-HIGH AND FRANCHISE RECORD 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Z7kO8tausf
Milwaukee were dumped out of the in-season tournament semi-finals in Las Vegas last week by the Pacers and were clearly determined to avoid a repeat of that loss before their home crowd at the Fiserv Forum.
The simmering tension between the teams boiled over in the fourth quarter when Indiana's Aaron Nesmith wrapped an arm around Antetokounmpo's neck as he drove for the basket.
Milwaukee's Bobby Portis flew in to defend his team-mate before being dragged away in an ugly melee that involved officials and coaching staff from both benches.
The acrimony flared again after the final buzzer, with Antetokounmpo and other Milwaukee players racing off the court to confront members of the Pacers team.
Antetokounmpo, whose 64 points marked a franchise record, later re-emerged back onto the court to remonstrate with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
LEAKED Audio Of Pacers Refusing To Give Giannis Antetokounmpo The “Game Ball”👀:
— LegendZ (@legendz_nba) December 14, 2023
“You want the ball? You’re not getting that ball”
Then, Giannis gets heated at Tyrese Haliburton and yells at him: “Go get the f*cking ball! You need to go get it” pic.twitter.com/e9XAQzNZVl
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the post-game fracas was triggered over a misunderstanding about the game-ball, snaffled by the Pacers after their Congolese rookie Oscar Tshiebwe scored his first NBA point off the bench.
"We were not thinking about Giannis's franchise record so we grabbed the ball and a couple of minutes later several of their players ended up in our hallway," Carlisle said.
"There was a big fracas, melee whatever. I don't think any punches landed but our general manager got an elbow in the ribs from one of their players.
"Unfortunate situation. It didn't need to escalate to that.
"Third time we've played these guys in the past two to three weeks so things are heated and I understand all that. But for it to come into the hallway -– it didn't need to happen that way."
© Agence France-Presse
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