Picture Credit: Twitter/@NBA
After suffering two back-to-back defeats in NBA Finals, Milwaukee Bucks finally bounced back by winning the Game 3 against Phoenix Suns in front of home fans. The star of the show was once again Bucks' power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. After registering 42 points (4 assists and 12 rebounds) in the previous game, the 26-year-old produced another heroic performance in an extremely crucial encounter for the Bucks. He secured 41 points (6 assists and 13 rebounds) in one of the best individual performances in history of NBA Finals as Bucks went on to win the match 120-100.
Giannis broke numerous records with his performance
The Bucks forward has already etched his name in the history books after his incredible heroics in the first three games of the finals. Giannis has now joined an elite group of players to record consecutive 40-point games in the NBA Finals. The only five other players to have achieved this remarkable feat are Jerry West (1965 and 1969), Rick Barry (1967), Michael Jordan (1993), Shaquille O'Neal (2000) an LeBron James (2016).
To add to it, the 26-year-old has become only the third player in history of NBA Finals to record consecutive 40-10 double-doubles. Interestingly, Giannis has also become only the second player ever to register back-to-back 40-point, 10-rebound games in the finals. The only other player to have done the same in past is Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal who achieved the milestone 21 years back.
Giannis also dismissed all the fuss around him chasing Michael Jordan's four 40-point games in a row. After the match, he said, "All I care about right now, it's getting one more win, that's all. Just take care of business, doing our job. I'm trying to enjoy every single moment of it. I'm going to be doing this for a while - 10, 12 years. I don't worry about the outcome. I want to enjoy the game and I know that by enjoying it I am going to compete as hard as possible."
Bucks will host Suns once again at the Fiserv Forum for Game 4 of NBA Finals, which will be played on July 15, Thursday (IST 6:30 AM onwards).