NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo Was Unstoppable as Bucks Punished Pistons and Advanced in the NBA Cup

The Milwaukee Bucks (11-9) used explosive second and third quarters to power past the Detroit Pistons (9-14) with a commanding 128-107 victory on December 4.

The Bucks have secured their spot in the NBA Cup with a perfect 4-0 record in Group B while the Pistons have been eliminated from contention after losing the point differential to the Magic, who also finished 3-1.

The Bucks continue to surge, winning their seventh straight game and nine of their last ten. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way, dropping 28 big points along with 7 rebounds and 8 assists. He was nearly flawless from the field, hitting his first 10 shots before missing a jumper late in the third quarter and sitting out in the fourth. Damian Lillard finished with 27 points and 5 assists. Gary Trent Jr. contributed 16 and Bobby Portis added 14.

Cade Cunningham took charge for Detroit with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Jalen Duren tallied 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Tobias Harris registered 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals while Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in 15. But it wasn’t enough to prevent their second straight loss and sixth in their last eight games.

Lillard and Antetokounmpo Too Much For The Pistons

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading runs. Lillard stepped up, scoring 12 points to put the Bucks in front by 5. Milwaukee started fast in the second, pushing their lead to (50-38) but the Pistons rallied back and turned it into a 6-point game.

But the Bucks suddenly caught fire and unleashed a punishing 17-4 surge, stretching the margin to 19 points. The Bucks’ offense was a thing of beauty, racking up 11 assists and 42 points on a scorching 14-of-19 shooting from the field and 10-of-13 from three-point range. They also made life tough for the Pistons, forcing five turnovers.

Giannis took over in the third, scoring 17 points and extending the Bucks’ lead to 26. The game was effectively decided at that point.

The Bucks host the Hawks tomorrow, while the Pistons challenge the Celtics.