The Milwaukee Bucks’ season is over after a short playoff run, but they still have something to celebrate.
On Tuesday night, the Indiana Pacers made an improbable comeback in the final minute of overtime to shock the Bucks and advance to the second round. Despite Milwaukee’s best efforts, it simply had too much to overcome after losing Damian Lillard to a torn Achilles.
Even if the Bucks had won Game 5 and forced another matchup in Milwaukee, finding enough production to get the job done would have been difficult. However, one man had no issues putting up unbelievable numbers throughout the first round and was the lone reason Milwaukee had any chance in the series.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee might be up in the air, but his talent and ability to put the Bucks on his back will never be in doubt. Throughout the first round, Antetokounmpo had one of the best performances in recent history.
Against the Pacers, Antetokounmpo averaged 33 points, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists across the five games. His best performance came in the Bucks’ final game, when Antetokounmpo put up 30 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists with the season on the line.
Not only did Antetokounmpo put up a triple-double in his final game, he finished with a double-double in each of the other four games as well. Antetokounmpo’s big performances helped him finish the series averaging 55 points, rebounds and assists combined.
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That average easily leads the playoffs and puts Antetokounmpo in some rare air. His 55 points-rebounds-assists were the most in a playoff run since Russell Westbrook averaged 59.8 in his MVP season in 2017.
Considering both players lost in the first round in five games, it clearly isn’t a sustainable way of playing. However, with little help around him, Antetokounmpo did everything he could to try and get the Bucks past the first round.
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