This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated the court, scoring 47 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 109-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on November 17, 2021.
Antetokounmpo's performance was his highest since he posted 50 points in the Bucks' championship-clinching victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of last season's NBA Finals.
"I wanted to be the aggressor out there," Antetokounmpo said. "I wanted to initiate the contact, get in the paint, make the right play and just play with an edge out there."
With 29 seconds remaining, Antetokounmpo sealed the game with two free throws.
Meanwhile, Khris Middleton played in his first game since October 30 after completing COVID-19 protocols and combined with Antetokounmpo on nine straight Bucks points that put Milwaukee up 95-91.
Middleton's 16 points included a brace of three-pointers in the fourth quarter that gave Milwaukee the lead for good and tied him with Ray Allen for most in Bucks history with 1,051.
The Lakers had rallied from an 11-point first-half deficit and led 87-86 with 9:29 left to play, but the Bucks' late surge proved too much to overcome.
Talen Horton-Tucker led the Lakers with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Anthony Davis scored 18 points and Russell Westbrook added 19 points and 15 assists.
Elsewhere in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets bounced back from a lopsided loss to the Golden State Warriors with a 109-99 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by James Harden's 27 points and 10 rebounds.
