A historic all-round performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Milwaukee Bucks to a 120-100 Game 3 victory.
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He put up 41 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists on 14-of-23 shooting from the field and 13-of-17 from the free-throw line. Four other Bucks scored in double figures, led by Jrue Holiday's 21 points as the hosts completely outplayed the Suns in multiple key categories.
| Bucks | Suns | |
| Second-chance points | 20 | 0 |
| Fast break points | 16 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 54 | 40 |
| Points off turnovers | 17 | 10 |
Chris Paul was the Suns' top scorer with 19 points but Game 3 was all about the Bucks and Antetokounmpo's tremendous play.
Here's a look at how the Greek Freak's numbers stack up against the all-time performances:
6: Players with consecutive 40-point Finals games
By finishing with 41, Giannis Antetokounmpo joined a shortlist of elite scorers to record consecutive 40-point games in the NBA Finals.
He is the sixth ever and first since LeBron James in 2016 to do so. Other players include Jerry West (1965 and 1969), Rick Barry (1967), Michael Jordan (1993) and Shaquille O'Neal (2000).
3: Players with consecutive 40-10 Finals games
The Greek Freak, James and O'Neal are the only three players in NBA Finals history to record consecutive 40-10 double-doubles. Of the trio, Antetokounmpo and O'Neal are the only ones to record consecutive 40-point, 10-rebound double-doubles.
Only two players in NBA history had 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in back-to-back Finals games.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 12, 2021
Shaq and Giannis. pic.twitter.com/IO4pZJEbDO
3: Players with 41-13-6 stat lines in NBA Finals
Since the NBA-ABA merger, only three players have recorded a statline of at least 41 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
Magic Johnson, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo - that's the list.
Similar to Antetokounmpo, Johnson also put up those numbers in his debut Finals. He put up those numbers (42-15-7), starting at center in place of an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in the 1980 title clincher (Game 6) against the Philadelphia 76ers.
On the other hand, James put up 41 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists to help the Cleveland Cavaliers to stave off elimination in Game 5 of the 2016 Finals.
24: Points in the restricted area
No game could have shown more than this one that Giannis is the second coming of Shaq. He scored all of his 28 non-free-throw points from the paint, 24 of which came in the restricted area on perfect 12-of-12 shooting.
That tally is tied for the most in a restricted area over the last 25 seasons in NBA Finals history according to ESPN Stats and Info. Only O'Neal and James have put up those numbers.
Only O'Neal and James have scored more points in the paint than Antetokounmpo did in this game over the previous 25 seasons.
1: Antetokounmpo's turnovers in Game 3
With this game, the Greek Freak became the sixth player since 2000 to put up 40-10-5. However, the Bucks superstar separated from that elite company with his one turnovers.
Players with a 40/10/5 Finals game since 2000:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 12, 2021
Shaq O'Neal (2x)
LeBron James (5x)
Kevin Durant
Jimmy Butler
Giannis Antetokounmpo pic.twitter.com/uTGS9pzD0K
According to ESPN Stats & Info, one turnover is the fewest-ever recorded by a player with at least 40-10-5 in the NBA Finals. His plus-minus of +20 was second only to Jrue Holiday's +22 but Antetokounmpo remains the only Bucks player to have a positive plus-minus through each game of the Finals so far.
103: Antetokounmpo's points tally through 1st three Finals games
In NBA Finals history, only three players have scored more than the Greek Freak for their first three Finals games.
Giannis has scored 103 points in this series, the 4th-most by a player in his first 3 career Finals games. pic.twitter.com/UQke2XKONS
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 12, 2021
Barry's 122 points include a 55-point performance in Game 3 of the 1967 Finals. The 55 points are tied for the second-most in a single Finals game in NBA history.
Meanwhile, Allen Iverson's 106 points include a 48-point performance in a scintillating game where the Philadelphia 76ers upset the Los Angeles Lakers, who were undefeated in that postseason until then, in Game 1 of the 2001 Finals.
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