After his previous outburst, Milwaukee coach Giannis Antetokounmpo made sure to secure the game ball. Giannis scored 26 points and pulled down 17 rebounds against the Houston Rockets, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the Bucks’ lifetime rebounding leader.

Following his earlier this week pass over Abdul-Jabbar, 76, for the team’s scoring record, Antetokounmpo recorded his highest rebounding total of the year.

The 29-year-old “Greek Freak” has surpassed Michael Jordan of Chicago, LeBron James of Cleveland, and Kevin Garnett of Minnesota as the only players in franchise history to lead all three categories in terms of assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo now leads the Bucks’ franchise records in pts, assists and rebounds

 

Bucks assistant coach Danny Carter grabbed the game ball from a referee after Sunday’s game

In an attempt to avert a recurrence of the altercation that transpired following Wednesday’s victory over the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee assistant coach Danny Carter took the ball from an official and gave it to one of the team’s equipment men to take back to the locker room after the Bucks defeated the Rockets 128-119 on Sunday, winning their 13th straight home game and improving to 14-1 at home.

Eventually, both Bucks analysts for Bally Sports Milwaukee expressed relief by saying, “We’re good.”

The Bucks eventually broke away from a Rockets squad that had been in the game for the majority of the four quarters, led by seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard, who scored 39 points against Houston. Forward Khris Middleton scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter.

With 5:26 remaining, Middleton scored a three-pointer to give the Bucks a 112-106 lead. Three minutes later, Antetokounmpo made it 118-111 thanks to a three-point play. The Bucks (19-7) added 18 more points from Brook Lopez, while Bobby Portis scored 11 off the bench.

With 38.9 seconds remaining, Rockets coach Ime Udoka was called for two technical fouls after exiting the court, while Dillon Brooks was dismissed after receiving two technical fouls. Following the Techs, Lillard converted three of four free throws to match his season-high scoring total. He contributed 11 assists as well.

Alperen Sengun, the center, scored 20 points, while Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 22 points. Jabari Smith Jr. scored 16 while Brooks contributed 18.

With 7:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, Antetokounmpo broke Abdul-Jabbar’s record after rebounding Tari Eason’s failed basket. In his eleventh season with Milwaukee, he had 17,162 rebounds, including his 14th of the game.

Giannis dropped 26 points and 17 rebounds in the Bucks’ 128-119 win vs. the Rockets, Sunday

During the following break, the Bucks played a clip of Antetokounmpo’s career rebounding highlights, earning a standing ovation from the Fiserv Forum audience.

Halfway through the third quarter, the Bucks led 83-72 and forced a Houston timeout with back-to-back 3-pointers from Lopez and Lillard.

After it was decided that Brooks had committed an offensive foul by unintentionally striking Pat Connaughton in the face with his right elbow, the basket was taken away during a review.

Before Jeff Green made a 3-pointer and two free throws to close the third-quarter deficit to 91 points for the Rockets, the Bucks had led by as many as 14 points.

With 15 points and five assists in the opening quarter, Lillard got the Bucks off to a quick start, leading them 33–28 at the half. Lillard made 5 of 6 field goals and 2 of 3 three-pointers.

Midway through the second quarter, Andre Jackson gave the Bucks a lift. He tipped in a miss and scored on a fast-break layup on back-to-back plays, giving Milwaukee a 52-43 lead. He ended the half with nine points after adding a corner 3-pointer.

Despite letting the Rockets shoot 58.5 percent, Milwaukee led 71-60 at the half. Antetokounmpo contributed 17 points and eight rebounds in addition to Lillard’s 20 points.

Guard Malik Beasley, who missed his second straight game due to a non-Covid sickness, was not available for the Bucks to play.

The Rockets will play the second game of a back-to-back against Cleveland on Monday, and Milwaukee will face San Antonio on Tuesday.