By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a marquee meeting of European NBA superstars in crypto.com Arena on Friday, Giannis Antetokounmpo bested Luka Doncic, lifting the Milwaukee Bucks over the Los Angeles Lakers, 105-101.
The Greek Freak retained a tie with a clutch block on LeBron James with 39 seconds left in the fourth quarter and followed up with a clutch steal versus the four-time NBA champion with two seconds on the clock, allowing Kevin Porter Jr. to get the visitors back in control from the free-throw line.
“Down the stretch, you’ve got to keep your matchup. We know that the ball is going to either Luka or LeBron, and LeBron had the ball, so I had to just fight over the screens, navigate the pick and rolls, and just make a play,” described Giannis.
“He made a great play, getting his arms, tipping it from behind, but can’t turn the ball over, obviously,” pointed out 41-year-old James.
“It’s why he’s Giannis. He’s got the ability to go to another level. That block at the rim was… I mean him, Wemby, and we should stop. Really, that’s it. To have the ability, the timing, and more importantly, the awareness to recover and get back in that,” mentioned Bucks head coach Doc Rivers. “That was huge.”
“And then the steal at the end,” continued the 64-year-old play-caller. “They were 13-0 in clutch, and we talked about they love threes. So with Giannis, I thought he got up in LeBron and forced him to the basket. I thought that was a huge play for us to do that. Because he was going to a stepback. It was about 99% that was about to happen.”
In addition to turning momentum after his side went from a 12-point cushion to trailing late in the fourth quarter, the 31-year-old point forward reached 21 points behind 9/11 two-pointers and 3/4 free throws, grabbed six rebounds, dished five assists, blocked two shots, and registered two steals over 30:48.
“I’m very, very proud,” he said on the team performance down the stretch. “We can’t put ourselves in situations like that. We didn’t do a great job executing, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. They’re a very, very good team. We were able to get the win, so I’m happy.”
His brothers went from Thanasis staying on the bench to Alex remaining an assignment with the G League affiliate, Wisconsin Herd.
The Bucks improved to 17-21 in the 2025-26 Regular Season, overcoming 24 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, and two steals by Doncic to reduce the Lakers to 23-13. The Slovenian superstar fouled out with 16.2 seconds left.
“I think we missed a couple of good shots down the stretch. Then I fouled out. I had six fouls first time in a long time. That’s on me. Can’t foul on a three-pointer,” reacted the 26-year-old guard.
“The referee said it was a foul, so I guess it was a foul,” Doncic specifically addressed the call leading to his exit, a foul on a three-point attempt by Porter.
Off the bench for the team coached by JJ Redick, German Maxi Kleber logged 3:16 for two rebounds and one assist.