Giannis Antetokounmpo makes emphatic statement after Bucks go down 2-0 to Pacers

Alex Murray

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Giannis Antetokounmpo makes emphatic statement after Bucks go down 2-0 to Pacers image

For the second time in two contests, the Milwaukee Bucks trailed the Indiana Pacers by double-digits for much of the night during Game 2 on Tuesday. They were able to go on a late 13-0 run to bring themselves within two points, but back-to-back Pacers threes thereafter thwarted the comeback effort as Milwaukee fell 123-115.

The puts them in an unenviable 0-2 hole in the series as they head back to the mean streets of Milwaukee for Games 3 and 4 over the weekend. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be hoping that old maxim that role players perform better at home holds true.

The Greek Freak was hung out to dry by the rest of his team in Game 1. And it wasn't much better in Game 2. Damian Lillard was predictably rusty, scoring 14 on 31 percent shooting. Bobby Portis was huge off the bench with 28 points, but Kyle Kuzma was the only other player to hit double-digits for Milwaukee. 

Meanwhile, all five Pacers starters scored in double-digits and they had six players overall score between 14 and 24 points. They also had three guys come off the bench and make 3+ shots from the floor. How jealous Giannis Antetkounmpo must feel.

Giannis knows what he needs to do to swing momentum in Game 3

After Game 2, in which Giannis and Portis accounted for 54 percent of Milwaukee's points, Antetokounmpo was visibly frustrated and agitated. He doesn't want to go down 0-3, and apparently, he knows "what I gotta do" to get back on track.

"My mindset right now is Game 3. I know the f****** deal man. I just know the deal. I know what I gotta do."

So far in this series, Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 35.0 points and 15.0 rebounds on 65 percent shooting from the field so far in this series. Portis is Milwaukee's next highest scorer, at just 16.0 a night, and there is no one else shooting above 50 percent for the series.

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Taking that all into account, it's pretty clear what Antetokounmpo meant when he said he knows what he has to do in Game 3: he needs to takeover. 34 and 15 is great, but if he wants to carry this comparatively weak group, he needs to put up 40- or 50-balls at home.

And again, Giannis will be hoping that his supporting cast gets more comfortable and plays better in the cozy confines of familiar Fiserv Forum. Game 3 will be broadcast on NBATV on Friday night at 8PM E.T.

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Alex Murray

Alex Murray is a freelance NBA writer with The Sporting News. He graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University's prestigious Sport Media program in 2019. Since then, he has done a variety of writing on sports and news for publications such as FanSided, ScreenRant, theScore, FantasyPros and The Sports Rush.