Home Basketball POWERLESS! Giannis Antetokounmpo’s effort was NOT ENOUGH despite his ‘INSANE’ performance with 48 points, but the Bucks fell to the Rockets on the road

POWERLESS! Giannis Antetokounmpo’s effort was NOT ENOUGH despite his ‘INSANE’ performance with 48 points, but the Bucks fell to the Rockets on the road

Basketball — 01/07/2024

Antetokounmpo finished with a remarkable 48 points and 17 rebounds. However, the Bucks dropped their third straight game as Damian Lillard (18 points, nine assists) and Khris Middleton (10 points, five assists) combined to shoot just 8 for 25 (including 1 for 13 on 3-pointers).

A graphic featuring a photo of Giannis Antetokounmpo making a jump pass in traffic. Text on the graphic reads, "Bucks 108, Rockets 112."

Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. combined for a game-winning 3-pointer in the closing seconds as the Houston Rockets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-108 on Saturday. Sengun also had double-doubles.

A graphic featuring a photo of Giannis Antetokounmpo shooting a jumper. Text on the graphic reads, "Player of the Game. Giannis Antetokounmpo. 48 PTS, 17 REB, 2 AST, 64 FG%."

Despite Giannis scoring 48 points, the Bucks were unable to overcome the Rockets.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Houston Rockets Final Score & Summary - Brew Hoop

After the first two rounds, the Bucks were too far behind the Rockets.

Houston finished the seven-game homestand at 3-4 thanks to a 21-point and 11-rebound double from Sengun and a 14-point and 12-rebound double from Smith. With 1:50 remaining, two free throws by Giannis Antetokounmpo helped Milwaukee cut their lead to 105-99. Eighteen seconds later, Sengun found Smith for a corner 3-pointer, which helped the Rockets win.

Jalen Green and Jeff Green each scored 16 points, while Fred VanVleet contributed 14 points and seven assists to round out the Rockets’ seven players in double digits.

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Milwaukee, who was behind by 20 points at the half, struck a rhythm early in the third quarter and used a 10-3 run to get back into the game as the Rockets fouled out four times by the 9:43 mark. Milwaukee was unable to cut the deficit to single digits, despite a heroic effort by Antetokounmpo, who scored half of the Bucks’ thirty points in the third quarter.

The Rockets responded to every Bucks revival with baskets from Sengun and Amen Thompson, an Aaron Holiday three-pointer, and a VanVleet alley-oop to Jalen Green. The Rockets led 89-73 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Holiday led Houston with 11 points after coming off the bench.

Despite Giannis’ 48 points, the Rockets and Sengun defeat the struggling Bucks | theScore.com

Two first-half runs gave the Rockets the working buffer they needed to turn the tide in the second half. Houston went into the second quarter leading 29-18 after starting the first quarter 1 for 8 from the field and ending the half with a 13-0 run.

Two key plays were made by freshman Cam Whitmore (12 points), one of which was a spinning layup past Lillard during the run. The Bucks and Rockets battled to a standstill for most of the second quarter, before Houston made a final basket to extend its advantage.

The Rockets took advantage of the Bucks’ lack of field goal production during the last 5:59 of the first half, mounting a 20-8 run that gave them a 63-43 lead at the intermission.

Sengun, Jalen Green, and VanVleet—who drained two 3-pointers—collectively scored all 20 points in the run. With just two mistakes, plus-7 rebounds, and 24 bench points, Houston ended the half strong.