Victor Wembanyama's game leaves Giannis stunned: 'Never seen anything like it' / News - Basketnews.com

Victor Wembanyama scored 27 points against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Spurs' losing effort. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton had nothing but praise for the French prodigy.

Credit: Ronald Cortes/Getty Images Credit Ronald Cortes/Getty Images

Giannis Antetokounmpo netted 44 points, including the deciding three-point play with 53.3 seconds to play as the visiting Milwaukee Bucks outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 125-121 on Thursday in a wild game that went back and forth in the final minutes. Antetokounmpo also grabbed 14 rebounds and combined with Damian Lillard (25 points, 10 assists) to score 25 of the Bucks’ final 26 points.

Player of the Game EFF 53 Giannis Antetokounmpo Points 44 Accuracy 19-28 Rebounds 14 Assists 7

The game was tied heading into the fourth quarter after San Antonio came from 11 points down early in the third. Devin Vassell’s putback dunk with 3:41 to play in the game put the Spurs up by five points but Milwaukee responded with a 9-1 run capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Antetokounmpo.

Victor Wembanyama's block and 3-pointer re-tied the game with 1:09 left but Antetokounmpo answered with a dunk and a free throw. The French prodigy produced 27 points, nine rebounds and five blocks on his 20th birthday.

It was the first-ever matchup between the two-time MVP and the frontrunner for Rookie of The Year award. Wembanyama logged his fourth game with 20-plus points and four-plus rebounds in 26 minutes or fewer.

At the same time, the Frenchman remains on a minutes restriction due to suffering two ankle injuries dating back to December. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich mentioned the club plans an MRI on the injury "in the next week or so" to get the rookie back on a regular playing schedule.

"He's somebody I grew up watching and one of the greatest players in the world," Wembanyama said of Giannis. "It's always extra motivation. I know I'm a competitor. So, I want to go at everyone and be the bad guy on the court. It was a great matchup."

Giannis returned the compliment.

"He plays the right way, plays to win," he said. "I've never seen anything like it. I don't know how tall he is. He's not 7'3'' (2.21 m.). He’s way taller. Whoever says he's 7'3'', that’s a lie. The sky is the limit as long as you work hard, keep having a positive attitude. Everything he dreams of is going to happen for him."

Victor Wembanyama

MIN:29.3PTS:19.17 (52.14%)REB:10.13As:2.83ST:1.17BL:3.2TO:3.23GM:30ProfileNBA2023/2024

Wembanyama and Giannis provided plenty of memorable moments throughout the night, starting with the former's alley-oop dunk to himself off the backboard in the second quarter. That highlight came after an Antetokounmpo dunk.

"That was a fun game to coach, a fun game to watch," said Bucks coach Adrian Griffin. "Two of the most unique, talented big men. I use that loosely because they are two very versatile players. I thought Wemby was great. I thought Giannis was phenomenal."

Khris Middleton, author of 12 points, was also left impressed by Wembanyama's grit against Antetokounmpo.

"I love to see that from young guys," he said. "To be competing, not scared of the moment, not scared of taking the shot and making a move or making a pass or just taking a chance in a close game, especially late. He loves the challenge. That's going to be big for him going forward."

Middleton stressed that the two players share the same versatility that allows them to do many things on the floor despite their size.

"I don't think the league has seen anything like that with two 7-footers or close to 7-footers that can do a little bit of everything go at each other," he opined.

"I think that's what everybody wanted to see; a guy that has a lot of potential, a lot of talent coming up in this league and he's playing well at this point against a multi-MVP player," Middleton commented.

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