The Milwaukee Bucks are back in the win column while the Minnesota Timberwolves’ losing streak hits five. Milwaukee improved to 23-12 on the season with an historic performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the Bucks’ last game, a loss to the Chicago Bulls, Giannis had 45 points, 22 rebounds, and seven assists. With that performance, he became just the 10th player in NBA history to have multiple 40-20-5 games. Against the Timberwolves, Giannis became just the third player to post a 40-20-5 game in back-to-back games. Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain are the only two other players who accomplished the feat. Chamberlain was the last to do it in 1966.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Leads the Bucks to Victory
Despite a slow start, the Milwaukee Bucks were able to use an explosive second half to come away with the victory. Giannis Antetokounmpo was at the center of it, ending the game with 43 points, 20 rebounds, and five assists. He was 14-23 from the floor (1-1 from three) and 14-21 from the free throw line.
In addition to joining Chamberlain and Baylor as the only players to post back-to-back 40-20-5 games, Giannis became the first player since Moses Malone in 1982 to have back-to-back 40-20 games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo with back-to-back 40/20 games. First to do it since Moses Malone in 1982. pic.twitter.com/MVWCApfroS
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) December 31, 2022
Related: Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Monster Stats vs the Minnesota Timberwolves Over the Last Two Seasons
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo Headed for His Third MVP?
The NBA MVP race is certainly stacked this season. Even though Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging a career-best 31.7 points per game (going into the game against Minnesota), NBA.com has him ranked fifth in their MVP rankings:
https://t.co/wWGNmWoaNH’s updated MVP Ladder:
1. Nikola Jokic
2. Jayson Tatum
3. Luka Doncic
4. Kevin Durant
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo
6. Joel Embiid
7. Zion Williamson
8. Ja Morant
9. Jaylen Brown
10. Donovan Mitchell— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) December 30, 2022
Of course, the season is far from over. However, if Giannis continues to score and rebound at this rate, it will be hard to vote against him.
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