A losing effort for the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo returning for a final playoff push
By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
In his first game since late January, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 points as the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Boston Celtics, 108-81, at Fiserv Forum on Monday.
Returning from a six-week absence due to a right calf strain, the Greek superstar played 25 minutes on a restricted workload. In addition to his 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line, he recorded 11 rebounds, two assists, and one block. The game also marked the debut of his eighth signature sneaker, the “Freak 8.”
“Obviously, something new in my career, being out for such a long time, and not just one time, multiple times into a season,” Antetokounmpo said during the postgame press conference. “It definitely disrupt my rhythm, but at the end of the day, I just try to take it day-by-day, game-by-game. I’m happy that I’m back.”
Reflecting on his recovery process and his history of returning quickly from injuries, he added, “I’m just stubborn. I have a lot of smart people around me that tell me the truth and tell me what to do. But at the end of the day, like I’ve been in this position in life by fighting through things and by just listening to my gut and fighting through adversity, and sometimes that’s smart, sometimes it’s not smart.”
While Thanasis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game absence due to illness to play two minutes, their brother Alex remained on assignment with the Wisconsin Herd in the G League. Meanwhile, French forward Ousmane Dieng joined the starting lineup, contributing 13 points, two assists, and one rebound in 30 minutes.
“It was great playing with him for the first time. A really good player, as everybody knows. Feel like it’s easier. Everybody got some help,” the 22-year-old Dieng said of playing alongside Giannis.
For the victorious Celtics, Portugal’s Neemias Queta was rested just one day after a career-best performance. In his absence, Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez and Montenegro’s Nikola Vucevic both earned starts. Gonzalez recorded senior career highs with a double-double of 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Vucevic added 10 points, seven assists, and five boards. Off the bench, Bosnia’s Luka Garza provided seven points and 10 rebounds, while Great Britain’s Amari Williams and Ukraine’s Max Shulga both saw two minutes of action.
With the C’s jumping to 41-20 in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season and sitting second in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks were reduced to 26-34, 3.5 games away from the Play-In zone.
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