Seems hardly anyone can pronounce Giannis Antetokounmpo's name. A couple of weeks ago, even President Barack Obama butchered the pronunciation; on a visit to Athens, the president praised the Greek native, but called him Ah-te-te (awkward pause and mumble)-coo-po.
But you don't have to pronounce "Antetokounmpo" (altogether now: ah-deh-toh-KOON-boh) to see he's not just a star on the rise — he's already arrived. Thursday night, the 6-11 guard/forward did everything but drive the Bucks' team bus. He scored 23 points and collected eight rebounds, eight assists, four steals and two blocks in Milwaukee's 111-93 win over the Nets.
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These types of performances are becoming almost routine for Antetokounmpo. On Tuesday, he tied a career high with 34 points, to go with 12 boards and five assists and steals, in leading the Bucks to a win against the Cavaliers while spending much of the game being guarded by LeBron James.
Antetokounmpo may be the biggest reason the Bucks, a dismal 33-49 last season, have won three in a row and are now a surprising 9-8.
Studs of the Night
Heat forward James Johnson came off the bench to pour in 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting, He added six rebounds and three assists in the Heat's 111-110 victory over the Jazz.
Almost everyone billed the Clippers' trip to Cleveland as a matchup between superstars Blake Griffin and LeBron James. Someone forgot to tell Clippers guard J.J. Redick.
While James (5-of-14 shooting, 16 points) and Griffin (4-of-14, 13 points) fizzled, Redick scored 23 points to lead the Clippers to a 113-94 win over the Cavs. James had been 12-0 against the Clippers at home in his career.
Dud of the Night
On the very day The Charlotte Observer ran a feature story about Frank Kaminsky alternating great games with those in which he disappears, he pulled a Houdini act against the Mavericks on Thursday.
The second-year big man took four shots, missed them all, and scored one point and had three rebounds in 22 minutes of play in Charlotte's 97-87 win. That follows a two-point outing Tuesday against the Pistons. The Hornets need less of that Kaminsky, and more of the versatile, sharp-shooting Kaminsky who is the team's third leading scorer at 11.5 points per game.
Highlight
Marc Gasol throws a half-court, no-look pass to feed Troy Williams for the jam. It's as spectacular as it sounds.
Looking ahead
Cavaliers (13-4) at Bulls (10-7), 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) — The Bulls have been one of the biggest surprises early in the season. Jimmy Butler (25.6 points per game) is outscoring LeBron James (23.5), and new addition Dwyane Wade (18.8 ppg) is knocking down more 3s than ever before, shooting a career-high 37.7 percent from behind the arc.