The sun is shining again over the Cream City. Just like that, a 4-0 streak has turned fortunes for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co., bringing the smiles back in the camp. It only took a matter of weeks for the Bucks to creep up the table and Giannis couldn’t have been happier after a hailstorm of trade rumors surrounding him.

It’s easy to see why Giannis was on cloud nine after the Bucks’ 125-119 victory against the Hornets. He knocked down 5-of-6 free throws in the final 34 seconds, giving Milwaukee the edge they needed for the win. This was the hot topic that popped up during the post-game interview. When a reporter asked how he felt about getting the opportunity to score late-game free throws, the Greek Freak pulled out his phone to share his past statistics. “Hold on. I’ll find it. Don’t worry,” he told the media. After rummaging through a clutter of texts which numbers around in hundreds according to his commentary, the 29-year-old found what he was looking for. He then was ready to unleash his inner statistician and followed with a proud declaration.

“I shoot 73% late game, free throws. Threes, I shoot 50% late game, and, main rates, 31 for 58. 54%. I will call myself clutch,” Giannis said before confessing that he was joking. Or was he? At least, the way he confidently cited his stats didn’t exactly suggest he was joking. On a more serious note, he added, “Sometimes you gotta go out there and make the free throws…One thing I would say about myself. I never, like, try to, you know, shy away from the free throw line. Even though sometimes I make 2 out of 10 or I pull a shot.”

Giannis further stated, “You’ve never seen me avoid contact or scared to go to the free-throw line. You know, at the end of the day, I believe that the hardest part to get done is to get there. And now it’s just up to me to make them.” While he acknowledged that he was fortunate his free throws hit the target this time, he admitted that he might miss them in the next game but that won’t stop him from taking them. Not only was Giannis’ free throws impressive, his numbers too stole the show for the Bucks.

A double-double is no big deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the 8-time All-Star recorded his 14th of the season. His brilliance was evident at both ends of the court. Giannis shot 12-of-23 from the field, not attempting many three-pointers, and showcased his defensive prowess with 11 rebounds, using his 7-foot-3 wingspan to dominate the glass. By the end of the night, he had racked up 32 points and contributed 6 assists to help his teammates.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s shinning numbers against Hornets

A double-double is no big deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the 8-time All-Star recorded his 14th of the season, the highest so far. His brilliance was evident at both ends of the court. Giannis shot 12-of-23 from the field while he didn’t attempt too many threes. He also stood tall at the defense using his 7-foot-3 wingspan to grab 11 rebounds. By the end of the night, he put up 32 points and helped his teammates with 6 assists.

With this performance, Giannis overshadowed LaMelo Ball’s outstanding 50-point contribution as the Nigerian forward had the last laugh at Fiserv Forum. Supporting him on offense was his on-court partner, Damian Lillard, who added another 31 points. The two of them finally succeeded in helping the Bucks avenge their last week’s narrow loss to the Hornets.