Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 30 in his comeback as Bucks beat Indiana

Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Giannis Antetokounmpo returns, ties record mark & joins a rare club with his 4,000th assist – and keys Bucks’ 120-112 comeback victory over Pacers jsonline.com/story/sports/n… via @journalsentinel – 7:40 PM

Rob Peterson @ShotDrJr
Far be it for me to provide advice for one of the best players on the planet, but Giannis should shoot his free throws as he does his midrange jumpers. No, not by jumping, but his midrange shooting stroke is fluid; on his free throws, he pauses. Don’t stop at the top. – 5:44 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
FINAL: Bucks 120, Pacers 112
– Antetokounmpo 30pts/12reb/5ast/2stl
– Lopez 16pts/5reb/3ast
– Middleton 15pts/6reb/7ast
– Portis 14pts/15reb/3ast
– Trent 14pts/2reb
The Bucks are now 17-14 on the season. – 5:38 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Pacers led by as many as 19, but were outplayed in the second half of a 120-112 loss to the Bucks. Yielded three 30-point quarters.
Giannis had 30-12-5, Portis with 14/15. Mathurin led the Pacers with 25/9 and Turner added 16/10.
Next: Thu. at Miami – 5:37 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Giannis today:
30 PTS
12 REB
5 AST
Leading the league in 30/10/5 games. pic.x.com/r14bqFH1Lp – 5:37 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Doc Rivers took his UIOLI there and Giannis Antetokounmpo was not happy about it. Seemed to think he had a lane to the rim.
Bucks ball out of the timeout though with the Bucks lead, 109-108, with 3:19 left. – 5:20 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
That was a DIME from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
I have no idea how he found a lane for a bounce pass through the Pacers zone to get Portis an easy one at the rim. – 5:17 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
And 91 seconds into the second half, Giannis Antetokounmpo has picked up his fourth personal foul. – 4:25 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
After that missed 3 by Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo committed a transition take foul. Been a rough first half for him.
Looks like he is struggling to get through the illness that has kept him out the last few games.
Pacers up, 56-48, with 2:56 left in the first half. – 4:00 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
That last attempted dunk (where he was fouled) was a good test of Obi Toppin’s left ankle. No issue. Looks normal out there.
Already 4-2-2 and the Pacers have an early lead. Giannis and Lillard with just 2pts combined. – 3:32 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Giannis Antetokounmpo is trying to shake the rust off early in this one.
Missed a finger roll on a lob from Khris Middleton. Got his own rebound and then missed the dunk off the back rim. He was fouled on the dunk attempt, so he’s at the line, but not quite himself early. – 3:16 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Toppin, Giannis, Middleton good to go as the Pacers host the Bucks.
My pregame notebook — w/ an update on Nesmith, Mathurin’s mom & sister serving up Haitian food at the game, Donnie Walsh receives a shout-out, milestone for Chris Taylor & more.
fieldhousefiles.com/p/notebook-pac… – 2:21 PM

Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
Full Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing today vs. Pacers?
🏀Probable starters
🕕NYE matinee in Indy
📺Broadcast details
💰odds
📍Our game file is live👇
jsonline.com/story/sports/n… via @journalsentinel – 12:37 PM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
🎇2024 Recap:
Euroleague Champions: Panathinaikos
NBA Champions: Celtics
NBA MVP: Jokic
All time Euroleague’s top scorer: Mike James
ROTY: Wembanyama
50 points by Nigel Hayes-Davis
Lebron, Curry, Durant in Olympics
Yabusele posterized Lebron
Giannis NBA Cup champion & MVP pic.x.com/upBBQBlWQ4 – 5:55 AM