Giannis Antetokounmpo amassed an NBA season-high 59 points as the Milwaukee Bucks overturned an 18-point deficit to defeat the visiting Detroit Pistons 127-120 in overtime on Wednesday night.
It was Antetokounmpo’s ninth 50-plus outing and the second best of his career, after his 64-point effort against Indiana last season.
The two-time MVP hit 21 of 34 from the field, 16 of 17 from the foul line, and had 14 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. Brook Lopez provided the support with 29 points.
Cade Cunningham had 35 points and 11 assists for the Pistons, while Malik Beasley hit eight 3-pointers in his 26-point haul.
Antetokounmpo’s big evening was almost ruined when he was whistled for a foul with one second left in regulation, and the score was tied at 111, sending Ronald Holland to the free-throw line.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers challenged the call unsuccessfully but Holland missed both foul shots, forcing the extension, which Antetokounmpo dominated with 11 points.
Antetokounmpo was unguardable from the outset, attacking the Pistons with 22 first-quarter points, but Milwaukee received virtually no other offensive production early.
Two Lopez free throws were the only other scores for the Bucks who, Antetokounmpo aside, were 0-for-12 from the floor.
Beasley caught fire from the perimeter in the second term against his old side, his corner triple in the closing moments capping a 7-0 run to give Detroit a 60-47 halftime advantage.
The Pistons were 8 of 13 from downtown at the half.
Detroit’s lead swelled to 18 points in the third before the Bucks mounted a sustained fightback, aided by the ejection of Pistons power forward Isaiah Stewart with 3:02 remaining in the third. Stewart had grabbed Antetokounmpo’s jersey and yanked him to the ground.
Lopez drained a 30-footer in the closing moments of the quarter to cap a 33-14 run and give Milwaukee its first lead.
The 7-footer was doing it at both ends, knocking down his fourth triple early in the fourth, then rejecting Cunningham’s dunk attempt.
