The Milwaukee Bucks end the 2024-25 regular season with an eight-game win streak, defeating the Detroit Pistons 140-133 in overtime on Sunday afternoon. At 48-34, Milwaukee is entrenched as the fifth seed in the NBA Eastern Conference and will face the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Since the Bucks had clinched the fifth seed with their win over the Pistons on Friday night, none of their key players were available. Kyle Kuzma started the game and scored 22 points in the first quarter, but head coach Doc Rivers sent him to the showers after the opening period. He came back to the bench later in street clothes.
Kuzma tied Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s franchise record for the most points scored in a single quarter.
But as impressive as that record is, the story of the game was Pat Connaughton.
Milwaukee Bucks Guard Pat Connaughton Had the Best Game of His Career vs the Detroit Pistons
After being a key bench piece in Milwaukee for the better part of six seasons, Connaughton found himself demoted to the end of the bench this season. In just 40 games played this season, he averaged just 14.0 minutes per game, his lowest since 2016-17, his second year in the NBA (with the Portland Trailblazers). His 4.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game are also his lowest since that season.
But with Giannis and the rest of the key rotation players getting the game off, Connaughton found himself in the starting lineup. He used the opportunity to have the absolute best game of his career.
Connaughton finished the day with 43 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and two steals. He was 16-29 from the field overall (5-12 from three) and 6-9 from the free throw line.
Before Sunday, only three players in Bucks history had ever had 40+ points, 10+ rebounds, and five or more assists in a game. Those players are Giannis, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Khris Middleton.
Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard Damian Lillard Has a Hilarious Reaction to Pat Connaughton Scoring 43 Points
Damian Lillard, of course, did not play again as he is still recovering from a blood clot in his right calf. He was, however, an enthusiastic supporter on Milwaukee’s bench, along with Giannis, and was obviously thrilled with Connaughton’s play throughout the course of the game.
Afterwards, he joked that he was able to be so happy for his teammate because Connaughton did not break his own personal Bucks single-game high:
“I’m just happy he didn’t break my Bucks career high.” 😂
Dame with the postgame praise for Pat. pic.twitter.com/s0iUJoxOCI
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 13, 2025
“PC was my rookie in Portland, so coming back here, he’s got grey hairs in his beard now. Playing the last game, you know, he knew he would be in and out of the rotation. Just a true professional. To have this type of night, it is only fitting for a guy like this man. Staying prepared, being in the gym, playing in the stay ready game.
“And I’m just happy didn’t break my Bucks career high. If he would have made those free throws, he would have gotten me, but he didn’t.”
Lillard’s career-high in points with the Bucks is 45.
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