MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks took down Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night time, 124-115, within the newest matchup between two of the league’s finest and most original gamers. Though aggressive on the ground, the dueling MVP candidates share a mutual respect for the opposite’s skills.
“Enjoy [competing against him] is tough as a result of I wish to win, so it is arduous to go in opposition to a man like that,” Doncic stated after the Mavericks’ fourth consecutive defeat. “He’s one of the best participant within the NBA proper now. He’s nearly not possible to cease. It’s actually enjoyable to see him play, however it’s not that enjoyable to go in opposition to him.”
Antetokounmpo completed with 30 factors, 11 rebounds and 4 assists on 11-of-19 from the sphere for his fourth consecutive 30-point outing. This is already his second 30-point streak of not less than 4 video games this season, and he is averaging a career-high 30.9 factors per recreation to associate with 11.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists. Now into his tenth season within the league, the Greek Freak seems to be higher than ever.
“He improves on daily basis,” Doncic stated. “He works actually arduous, you possibly can see it. He works on all the pieces, he works on his shot and he is gotten higher at loads of issues. He simply will get higher on daily basis.”
Later within the night time, lengthy after the Mavericks had left for the airport to return house, the two-time MVP made his method to the rostrum for his post-game media convention, and was happy to listen to what Doncic had stated.
“That’s an excellent praise and I recognize that,” Antetokounmpo stated. “When you play in opposition to one of the best gamers within the league, with the ability to say one thing like that feels good. No matter wins or losses, simply being revered by your friends, it is all the time an excellent feeling.”
His reward for Doncic, who went for 27 factors, 5 rebounds and 12 assists in simply his fifth outing this season with fewer than 30 factors, was simply as effusive.
“I all the time love enjoying in opposition to one of the best gamers within the league,” Antetokounmpo stated. “He’s an unimaginable participant, unimaginable expertise, arguably one of the vital gifted gamers I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. It’s unbelievable what he can do for himself and his crew, and it is all the time nice going in opposition to gamers like that.”
Earlier this month, throughout an look on Serge Ibaka’s YouTube sequence, “How Hungry are You?”, Antetokounmpo named Doncic as the purpose guard in his beginning 5 for a hypothetical match-up between worldwide and American NBA gamers. The remainder of the league should be glad that imaginary situations like which are the one time these two superstars are in the identical lineup.
