Giannis Antetokounmpo is known for his competitive spirit, and after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 133-123 victory over the Phoenix Suns, the two-time MVP didn’t shy away from acknowledging his intense desire to win.
“I’m a sore loser, I’m not gonna lie,” Antetokounmpo said in his postgame remarks, per Eric Nehm. “Definitely needed a win. I think when you win, you enjoy your sleep better, you enjoy your food better, you enjoy spending time with your kids and everything better. You enjoy interacting with your teammates more.”
The Bucks snapped a four-game losing streak with the win, and it was Antetokounmpo who spearheaded the charge. The star forward posted a stat line of 37 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds, shooting an impressive 12-of-18 from the field. His performance helped Milwaukee set a franchise record by shooting 68.9% from the field, surpassing the previous best of 66.7% set in 1985.
Milwaukee’s dominant shooting wasn’t just about Antetokounmpo. Brook Lopez added 22 points, while Ryan Rollins contributed a key 23 points off the bench. The Bucks (41-34) strengthened their hold on sixth place in the Eastern Conference, now just one game behind the fifth-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Phoenix, on the other hand, struggled without its star players. Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Royce O’Neale were all sidelined for the Suns, who have now lost four straight games. Despite Devin Booker’s best efforts—he scored 39 points and added 11 assists—it wasn’t enough to overcome Milwaukee’s offensive firepower.
The Suns (35-41) fought hard, even after trailing by 22 points in the second half. Phoenix cut the deficit to 124-120 when Grayson Allen nailed a three-pointer with 1:20 left. But Rollins answered back with a quick three of his own just 11 seconds later, effectively sealing the game for the Bucks.
Milwaukee’s perimeter shooting played a critical role in their victory, with the team knocking down 17-of-29 attempts from beyond the arc. Taurean Prince was particularly effective, adding 16 points while shooting 4-of-5 from deep. Lopez also made his mark, hitting two of his three attempts from three-point range.
On the defensive end, the Suns struggled to contain the Bucks without key defenders. Phoenix allowed 35 points in the third quarter alone, which helped Milwaukee extend its lead to double digits. Former Bucks player Grayson Allen led Phoenix with 23 points, while Collin Gillespie added 18 points in a losing effort.
With the defeat, the Suns find themselves in a tight spot in the Western Conference standings. They are now two games behind the ninth-seeded Dallas Mavericks and 1.5 games behind the 10th-place Sacramento Kings. Phoenix will need to turn things around quickly if they hope to keep their play-in tournament hopes alive.
For the Bucks, this victory serves as a much-needed boost as they push for better seeding in the Eastern Conference. With just a handful of games left in the regular season, both teams face critical stretches to close out the campaign.
