In a hard-fought game on Sunday, the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers with a final score of 118-113. Despite the loss, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had an outstanding performance, finishing with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, just one assist shy of a triple-double. His incredible effort continues a historic start to his season.
📊 A Record-Breaking Start
Giannis Antetokounmpo is putting up incredible numbers early in the 2025-26 season. He has become only the third player in NBA history, alongside Luka Dončić and Oscar Robertson, to start a season with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in each of the first three games. His shooting has also been excellent, with a field goal percentage of 68.3%. This is the second-highest ever for a player averaging over 30 points through three games, trailing only the legendary Shaquille O’Neal.
💪 Carrying the Load for the Team
With key players like Kevin Porter Jr., Cole Anthony, and Kyle Kuzma out due to injury or illness, Antetokounmpo had to take on most of the playmaking duties. This meant he handled the ball a lot, which is very tiring. Coach Doc Rivers praised his star player’s effort, saying, “He handled the ball for the majority of the game. That’s taxing, and yet, he’s still willing to go into the paint and get fouled. That’s just who he is.” Even with the extra work, he continued to attack relentlessly.
🛡️ A Tough Physical Battle
The game against the Cavaliers was very physical, and Antetokounmpo was often fouled, drawing 11 fouls and shooting 16 free throws. Coach Rivers compared the physical treatment he receives to what Shaquille O’Neal used to face, noting that Antetokounmpo often gets hit without a foul being called. “He gets hit, grabbed and held,” Rivers said. “He doesn’t react to the hits, so there’s no call to it… to be able to make accurate passes through that contact, it just tells you how tough he is.”
🔥 Building a Fighting Identity
Although the Bucks were down by 18 points in the third quarter, they fought back to tie the game before eventually losing. After the match, Antetokounmpo said that despite the loss, this game showed the team’s fighting spirit. He wants the Bucks to be known for their toughness this season. “We’re going to be a bunch of guys that play hard… and make every single night a bar fight,” he said. The Bucks will look to bounce back in their next game at home against the New York Knicks.
