© Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Giannis and Dame are the first teammates to score 30+ points each for three straight games since 1963
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have been putting up numbers that no other teammates have done in the last 60 years.
According to OptaSTATS, Giannis and Dame are the first teammates to each score 30+ points in three straight games (all ending in regulation) since Elgin Baylor and Jerry West did it from January 31st to February 2nd, 1963.
Offensive onslaughts
Giannis and Dame started scoring 30-plus points each on November 24th when the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Washington Wizards 131-128. In that win, Antetokounmpo and Lillard finished with 31 points each.
In their next game, the Greek Freak scattered 33 points, while Dame scored 31 when the Bucks rallied from 26 points down to turn back the Portland Trail Blazers, 108-102.
The All-Star teammates sustained their impressive scoring runs when they combined for 65 points in Milwaukee’s NBA In-Season Tournament win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, 131-124.
Antetokounmpo ended up with 33 points, while Lillard had 32 in the win.
Giannis, Dame carrying the Bucks
Those three straight outstanding games by the All-Star teammates have allowed the Bucks to stay at the upper part of the East Conference team standings.
With a 13-5 record, the Bucks are just one game behind the Boston Celtics, who are atop the East standings with a 14-4 record. Milwaukee is actually tied with the Orlando Magic at second place.
More importantly, the series of offensive onslaughts by Antetokounmpo and Lillard allowed the Bucks to advance to the knockout round of the cash-rich NBA In-Season Tournament.
The win over the Heat sent the Bucks to a sudden-death quarterfinal game with the New York Knicks. The Bucks will host the crucial contest on Tuesday.
