Milwaukee Bucks’ Record-Breaking Night: A Game to Remember
Apr 2, 2025, 12:44 AM ET
MILWAUKEE — In a night that will be remembered for its sheer brilliance, Giannis Antetokounmpo rallied his Milwaukee Bucks teammates with a simple yet powerful message: “We’re fighting for our lives.” And fight they did, delivering a performance that not only snapped a four-game losing streak but also etched their names in the history books.
The Bucks shot a staggering 68.9% (51-of-74) from the floor, setting a franchise record and achieving the highest single-game shooting percentage by any team this century. This remarkable feat came in a 133-123 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. The last time a team shot this well was on March 13, 1998, when the LA Clippers shot 69.3% (61-of-88) in a 152-120 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Antetokounmpo’s rallying cry was clear: “I kept saying to my teammates, ‘We’re fighting for our lives. We’re fighting for our lives,'” he said. “They think I’m joking, but I’m not joking. We’re fighting for our lives right here. Every win counts.”
Currently sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, the Bucks are on track for their lowest playoff seed since 2018. They were coming off a tough 145-124 loss to Atlanta, where they allowed the most points they’d given up all season. With uncertainty surrounding the return of seven-time All-NBA guard Damian Lillard, who is dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, the Bucks needed a win desperately. And they delivered.
Each of the eight Bucks who took the floor shot at least 50%. Antetokounmpo led the charge with 37 points, 11 assists, and 6 rebounds, shooting 12-of-18. But it wasn’t just a one-man show. Ryan Rollins was on fire, shooting 8-of-10 overall and 5-of-7 from 3-point range, scoring 23 points. Meanwhile, Brook Lopez celebrated his 37th birthday in style, shooting 10-of-13 and scoring 22 points. The Bucks also made a season-high 58.6% of their 3-point attempts (17-of-29).
Lopez reflected on the team’s performance, saying, “I think we were a bit disappointed in our offense the past few games. I think we got back to moving it, sharing it, trusting it, really taking advantage of our size in transition, getting the ball into the paint and just playing off that.”
Antetokounmpo, as always, was the driving force. “I knew coming into this game, whenever I see cracks, I’ve got to take them because I’m not going to have a lot of opportunities to be aggressive,” he said. “When I don’t have cracks, probably somebody’s going to be wide open, so I’ve just got to look to the right or the left of me and make the right play.”
Despite their shooting prowess, the Bucks nearly let a 21-point second-half lead slip away. Phoenix closed the gap to four points before Rollins hit a crucial 3-pointer with 1:09 left, securing the win for Milwaukee.
Phoenix stayed competitive due to Milwaukee’s 20 turnovers. The Suns took 18 more shots than the Bucks and outscored them 24-3 in second-chance points. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer acknowledged the Bucks’ hot shooting, saying, “My gut is they had one of those nights. I thought defensively our effort, our [will to] compete was at a very high level. … The basket was big for them tonight.”
The Bucks had a similar experience on Sunday, shooting 69% in the first half but trailing 82-75 at halftime due to turnovers and defensive struggles. Bucks coach Doc Rivers commented, “We’re so close to being an incredible offensive team. We shoot 70% the first half the other night. We shot 68.9 tonight. If we can rebound the ball and take care of the ball, we’ve got a chance to break out and make a hell of a run here. We really do.”
For Antetokounmpo, the win was a much-needed relief. “I definitely needed a win,” he said. “I think when you win, you enjoy your sleep better. You enjoy your food better. You enjoy spending time with your kids and everything better. You enjoy interacting with your teammates more. I’m a sore loser. I’m not going to lie. We definitely needed a win.”
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
