Middleton, Antetokounmpo lead Bucks past Nuggets 125-112
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, moves to the rim as Denver Nuggets forward JaMychal Green defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, in Denver. Middleton had 29 points and a career-high 12 assists, Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and the Milwaukee Bucks won their fifth straight game by beating the Denver Nuggets 125-112 on Monday night. โWe still find ourselves trying to figure out how to be a team that plays a lot better in the second half,โ Malone said. โWeโve lost three in a row because we havenโt defended anybody.โTIP-INSBucks: The Bucks outrebounded the Nuggets 50-38. โHope that he's going to be well.โMAIN ATTRACTIONAsked about the marquee matchup between Jokic and Antetokounmpo, Malone feigned hurt feelings.
Giannis scores 43 as Bucks beat Pistons 125-115
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)MILWAUKEE โ Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 43 points and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Detroit Pistons 125-115 on Monday night to move above the .500 mark for the first time this season. The reigning two-time MVP scored 30 points by halftime, shot 17 of 24 from the floor overall and finished with nine rebounds. Antetokounmpo said he might have gotten a little more room to operate inside because the Bucks (4-3) have shot so well from 3-point range lately. Bucks: Milwaukee didnโt have reserve guards Pat Connaughton or Sam Merrill available. This is the Pistonsโ second straight back-to-back set, as they split two home games with Boston on Friday and Sunday.
Antetokounmpo won't say whether he will sign supermax offer
MILWAUKEE โ Giannis Antetokounmpo praised the โamazingโ moves the Milwaukee Bucks have made to improve the team, but the two-time reigning MVP stopped short Wednesday of saying he would sign a supermax contract extension offer. โRight now Iโm not focusing on that,โ Antetokounmpo said during his first preseason discussion with reporters. He has until Dec. 21 to sign the extension, or else he will be eligible to become a free agent after the 2020-21 season. The Bucks say the uncertainty surrounding Antetokounmpo's future hasn't impacted the team's focus as it gets ready for the season. When Antetokounmpo celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday, each of the Bucks gave him a pen as a gift.