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Giannis Antetokounmpo Continues Red Hot Streak as Damian Lillard Brings Back Winning Ways – 3 Takeaways From Bucks’ Thrashing of Bulls

Published 11/13/2023, 11:16 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Milwaukee Bucks super star Giannis Antetokounmpo finally finds relief after two consecutive loses. The affairs didn’t go in the Bucks favor, despite Giannis’ MVP-level performances. Notably, in the game against the Indiana Pacers, the Bucks lost the game even after Greek Freak‘s season high score of 54 points. However, the things took a turn on Monday night against the Chicago Bulls as they produced a dominant 118-109 victory.

The Bucks took on the in-form DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine at their home. The Bucks withheld the Chicago force right from the tip off with a strong first quarter lead. Following the 17-point first quarter lead, the Bucks continued to ride on it and didn’t the Bulls surpass them in the offense. Eventually, the Bucks took home the win and let’s find out the key takeaways from the game.

1. Damian Lillard blows hot and cold

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The Bucks missed their second scoring option, Damian Lillard during their two consecutive losses. Dame made his return to side on Monday and the result in evident on the points table. However, the 7x NBA All-Star had a rusty evening, as he struggled to find buckets. He scored 5 out of his 12 points through free throws and put up a disappointing field goal record of 3-17. Even though he didn’t contribute to the team’s points directly, he did make a difference with his presence.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the MVP race

The 2x NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo found himself out of the race this season. Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum had taken up the 3rd and 4th spot in the MVP ranking up until November 12. The Greek Freak, who was ranked third for the last three consecutive years, found himself in the 10th spot. However, the Bucks superstar turned the stats around after he went off on his recent outings. Following his 54 points against the Pacers, he dropped 35 points twice in his last two games.

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With a lot of players competing for the MVP awards this season, Nikola Jokic still seemed to be on the top. Even though he lost it to Joel Embiid last season, he went on to win the Finals MVP. A few months back, while talking about the MVP race, Giannis said, “I try to control what I can control… for the Most Valuable Player, man, it’s a blessing in the sky for me. Would I want to win it my competitive side? I’m the most competitive guy who ever lived. I’m obsessed with basketball,” reported The Athletic.

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3. Khris Middleton needs a step-up

The 6 ‘7 tall Khris Middleton has always been considered as part of the Big 3 of the Bucks roster. He missed out on several games in preseason due to his knee injury and was doubtful about his participation in the regular season. However, Middleton made his return, but he didn’t churn in the required points for the side. In this season, he scored at an average of 11.4 points while the regular season average is 16.9 points. If he doesn’t step up his game, the Bucks will land in trouble.

Read More – Despite Claiming to Sleep in a Bucks Uniform, Giannis Antetokounmpo Doubles Down on Importance of “Winning” and “Better Situation”

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Watch This Story – Rumored to Join Stephen Curry’s Warriors, $228,200,420 Earning Giannis Antetokounmpo Follows Michael Jordan’s Footsteps to Gain Money Through Golf

Will Giannis clinch the MVP award this season? Will the Bucks win the Championship? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Shahul Hameed

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Shahul Hameed is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports, where he brings his passion for sports and entertainment journalism to life. With a Master's Degree in journalism from a reputed institute and years of experience in the industry, Shahul always strives to provide insightful and astute coverage of the NBA to the fans. Shahul's love for sports writing dates back to his college days.
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Edited by:

Sameen Nawathe