MILWAUKEE (AP) – Giannis Antetokounmpo (AP, pic below) said he wants to keep producing outstanding performances that he can show his kids one day when they’re old enough to appreciate them.
The two-time MVP added one more to the list.
Antetokounmpo scored 50 points while playing only 30 minutes as the Milwaukee Bucks rolled to a 135-110 victory over the slumping New Orleans Pelicans. Antetokounmpo shot 20 of 26 from the floor – including three of four from three-point range – and seven of 12 from the foul line.
Antetokounmpo’s 50 points were five off the career high he set on January 4 in a 123-113 victory over the Washington Wizards.
Jrue Holiday scored 17 and Brook Lopez added 15 for the Bucks, who shot 55.2 per cent.
New Orleans never led and lost its eighth straight.
The Pelicans were playing for the second consecutive night and were missing their top three scorers.
Jose Alvarado stepped up to lead the Pelicans with 18 points, while Trey Murphy III and Jonas Valanciunas had 16 each.
This marked the 10th time this season that Antetokounmpo has scored at least 40 points, matching the career high he set last year for 40-point games in a single season.
Antetokounmpo already had 16 points midway through the first quarter.
He went eight of nine for 18 points in that opening period, nearly matching New Orleans’ scoring total while helping the Bucks build a 37-19 advantage.
Antetokounmpo scored 12 straight Bucks points during a stretch that began with less than four minutes left in the game.
Antetokounmpo capped that spurt by making consecutive three-pointers, the last of which put him at the 50-point mark with 1:38 remaining.
