MY ACCOUNT
Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo says the Milwaukee Bucks will reap the benefits of rotating their roster amid injuries later in the championship race.
The reigning champions overcame the under-manned Eastern Conference leaders the Philadelphia 76ers 118-109 on Tuesday, snapping a run of five losses in six games.
Antetokounmpo starred with 31 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, but unheralded Grayson Allen and Bobby Portis impressed in the absence of small forward Khris Middleton (COVID-19) and center Brook Lopez (back).
Allen hit five three-pointers to finish with 25 points, while starting center Portis had 19 points and 10 rebounds across 35 minutes on court. Semi Ojeleye added 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
“Obviously you always want to win, you play to win,” Antetokounmpo said during his post-game news conference. “Grayson and Semi today were really good.
“Semi was shooting his open shots, he was being aggressive, diving for the ball. That’s good. We’re going to need that.
“We need these guys feeling comfortable playing with me and Jrue [Holiday]. We’re going to need everybody to win a championship and play down the stretch in May and June.”
Allen, who joined the Bucks from the Memphis Grizzlies in the off-season, went eight-for-13 from the field, including shooting at 56 per cent from beyond the arc.
“Grayson did a good job getting to the right spots,” Antetokounmpo said.
The Bucks finished strong with a 27-16 fourth quarter to get over the 76ers, who were without Joel Embiid. The win improves Milwaukee’s record to 5-6 on the season.
“It’s always good to get a win,” the Greek forward said. “Sometimes it’s pretty, sometimes it’s ugly, but a win is a win. We’re trying to build some momentum here.
“With a stop or a block or a play or a pass, just do whatever it takes to get a win. That’s what my team needs me to do. That’s why I showed a bit of emotion… I just wanted us to get a win.”
Holiday missed his three attempts from three-point range and shot four-for-14 from the field to finish with eight points in his third game back from an ankle injury.
Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said: “I thought he had some big plays defensively. His effort on the boards, he can put a body on a guy like Drummond, so Giannis and Bobby can clean stuff up. Jrue is working his way and really getting better.”
