MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo informed his Milwaukee Greenbacks teammates they have been combating for his or her lives.
They replied by way of taking pictures for the very best single-game proportion by way of any group this century.
Milwaukee snapped a four-game skid by way of taking pictures a franchise-record 68.9% (51-of-74) from the ground in a 133-123 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night time. No group had shot for that prime a proportion in a sport since March 13, 1998, when the LA Clippers shot 69.3% (61-of-88) in a 152-120 conquer the Toronto Raptors.
“I saved announcing to my teammates, ‘We are combating for our lives. We are combating for our lives,'” Antetokounmpo stated. “They suspect I am joking, however I am not joking. We are combating for our lives proper right here. Each and every win counts.”
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The Greenbacks are 6th within the Jap Convention standings and heading in the right direction for his or her lowest playoff seed since 2018. They have been coming off a 145-124 loss to Atlanta by which they allowed probably the most issues they might given up all season. They do not know when — or if — seven-time All-NBA guard Damian Lillard will go back from the deep vein thrombosis in his proper calf that has him taking blood-thinning drugs.
So that they wanted a win badly. They replied by way of making shot after shot.
Each and every of the 8 Greenbacks who took the ground Tuesday shot no less than 50%. Antetokounmpo had 37 issues, 11 assists and six rebounds whilst taking pictures 12-of-18, however he wasn’t a one-man gang.
Ryan Rollins shot 8-of-10 general and 5-of-7 from 3-point vary whilst scoring 23 issues. Brook Lopez celebrated his thirty seventh birthday by way of taking pictures 10-of-13 and scoring 22 issues. The Greenbacks made a season-high 58.6% in their 3-point makes an attempt (17-of-29).
“I believe we have been somewhat disillusioned in our offense the previous few video games,” Lopez stated. “I believe we were given again to shifting it, sharing it, trusting it, truly profiting from our measurement in transition, getting the ball into the paint and simply taking part in off that.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Greenbacks shot 68.9% (51-of-74) from the sector Tuesday night time, the very best single-game proportion because the Clippers shot 69.3% in opposition to the Raptors on March 13, 1998. Photograph by way of Gary Dineen/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Antetokounmpo, as same old, led the way in which.
“I knew entering this sport, every time I see cracks, I have were given to take them as a result of I am not going to have numerous alternatives to be competitive,” Antetokounmpo stated. “Once I should not have cracks, almost definitely anyone’s going to be huge open, so I have simply were given to appear to the precise or the left of me and make the precise play.”
In addition to the Greenbacks shot the ball, they just about blew a 21-point second-half merit. Phoenix had decreased the margin to 4 issues prior to Rollins hit a 3-pointer with 1:09 left to get the Greenbacks out of threat.
Phoenix stayed shut as a result of Milwaukee dedicated 20 turnovers. The Suns took 18 extra pictures than the Greenbacks and outscored them 24-3 in second-chance issues.
“My intestine is that they had a type of nights,” Suns trainer Mike Budenholzer stated. “I believed defensively our effort, our [will to] compete was once at an excessively excessive stage. … The basket was once large for them this night.”
The Greenbacks adopted a identical script Sunday, once they shot 69% within the first 1/2 however nonetheless trailed 82-75 on the smash on account of their 8 turnovers and struggles on protection.
“We are so on the subject of being an unbelievable offensive group,” Greenbacks trainer Document Rivers stated. “We shoot 70% the primary 1/2 the opposite night time. We shot 68.9 this night. If we will rebound the ball and deal with the ball, we have were given an opportunity to wreck out and make a hell of a run right here. We truly do.”
A minimum of this time, the Greenbacks discovered a strategy to win — despite the fact that it took a listing efficiency.
“I undoubtedly wanted a win,” Antetokounmpo stated. “I believe whilst you win, you experience your sleep higher. You experience your meals higher. You experience spending time together with your children and the whole lot higher. You experience interacting together with your teammates extra. I am a sore loser. I am not going to lie. We undoubtedly wanted a win.”
