Giannis Makes NBA History in Bucks’ 126-113 Win vs. 76ers/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded the first 35-point, 20-assist, 17-rebound game in NBA history. His dominant performance led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 126-113 road win over the struggling Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks overcame an early deficit and earned their second straight victory.
Giannis Makes NBA History in Bucks’ Win – Quick Looks
- Giannis Antetokounmpo posts 35 points, 17 rebounds, 20 assists, a first in NBA history
- Milwaukee defeats Philadelphia 126-113, shooting over 50% from three-point range
- Bucks overcome 14-point deficit, key 15-0 run in second quarter
- Bucks coach Doc Rivers exits early with illness, assistant Darvin Ham takes over
- Rookie Adem Bona scores career-high 28 points for short-handed 76ers
- Philadelphia drops 10th straight, now 3-25 since February 5
- Doc Rivers earns 1,156th coaching win, passing Phil Jackson for seventh all-time
Giannis Makes NBA History in Bucks’ 126-113 Win vs. 76ers
Deep Look
Giannis Antetokounmpo etched his name deeper into NBA history Thursday night, recording a never-before-seen stat line of 35 points, 17 rebounds, and 20 assists in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 126-113 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. With the performance, Antetokounmpo became the first player in league history to achieve such numbers in a single game, cementing his status as one of the game’s most versatile superstars.
The Bucks rode his record-setting effort to a second consecutive win, shooting a scorching 51.6% from beyond the arc. This followed an offensive explosion Tuesday against Phoenix, where Milwaukee posted 68.9% shooting from the field — the highest mark in the NBA since 1998 — and hit 58.6% of their three-point attempts.
Antetokounmpo’s dominance helped the Bucks erase a 14-point first-quarter deficit. Philadelphia jumped out to a 39-25 lead after the opening frame, but Milwaukee responded with a 15-0 run to begin the second quarter, quickly leveling the score. After a back-and-forth battle, an 11-2 Bucks run to close the third quarter gave Milwaukee control for good.
Giannis received support from Brook Lopez, who chipped in 17 points, and Kyle Kuzma, who added 16. AJ Green knocked down four threes to contribute 12 points. However, head coach Doc Rivers was forced to leave the bench early in the game due to illness. Assistant coach Darvin Ham stepped in and guided the Bucks for the remainder of the night.
Rivers still earned the coaching credit for the win — his 1,156th in the regular season — moving him past legendary coach Phil Jackson for seventh on the NBA’s all-time wins list. Rivers previously spent three seasons coaching the 76ers and collected 236 wins with the franchise from 2020 to 2023.
Philadelphia, decimated by injuries, continued its downward spiral with a 10th consecutive loss. The Sixers are now 3-25 since February 5 and were already missing key stars Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George. To make matters worse, reserve guard Lonnie Walker IV exited with a limp in the third quarter, and head coach Nick Nurse was ejected in the fourth.
Despite the mounting losses, rookie center Adem Bona provided a bright spot for Philadelphia with a career-high 28 points on an efficient 13-for-15 shooting. Quentin Grimes posted a double-double with 24 points and 10 assists, while Guerschon Yabusele added 22 points.
The Bucks, still without Damian Lillard due to a calf injury later diagnosed as deep vein thrombosis, are optimistic about the All-Star’s recovery. Rivers reported encouraging updates and expressed hope that Lillard could return before the end of the regular season or early in the playoffs.
With the win, Milwaukee continues to build momentum as they push toward the postseason. The team will look to keep the streak alive when they visit the Miami Heat on Saturday as part of a three-game road trip. Meanwhile, the 76ers aim to regroup and snap their skid when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on the same day.
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