Giannis Antetokounmpo not taking Bucks’ 8-0 begin with no consideration

MINNEAPOLIS — The Milwaukee Bucks improved to 8-0 for the primary time in franchise historical past on Friday night time, persevering with their red-hot begin to the season with a 115-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Bucks are the NBA’s final unbeaten staff and have become the primary staff to begin the season 8-0 since 2015-16 when the Golden State Warriors started the 12 months 24-0 en path to an NBA report 73 regular-season wins.

“Nice to be part of it,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo stated after Friday’s win. “You possibly can by no means take it with no consideration. I am very, very completely happy to be part of it and with the ability to have a staff that we’re capable of begin the season 8-0. However on the finish of the day I am completely happy that we’re constructing good habits.”

Milwaukee entered the season with aspirations of profitable its second championship in three years, bringing again almost its whole roster from final season for an additional shot on the title; rookie MarJon Beauchamp was the Bucks’ solely energetic participant Friday not on final 12 months’s staff.

Although the staff has bigger objectives in thoughts this season, it was nonetheless capable of admire pulling off a feat no Bucks staff has completed in 56 seasons.

“Yeah, beginning off with that confidence and feeling such as you’re constructing the suitable habits, taking part in the suitable method, profitable in numerous methods, if it is blowouts or shut video games or preventing again,” Bucks guard Jrue Vacation stated. “It feels good to be 8-0.”

“We’re simply taking part in our model of basketball,” Bucks ahead Bobby Portis stated. “Probably not nervous concerning the exterior noise and not likely nervous about what no person else obtained occurring, fear about what we now have occurring, holding one another accountable, and attempt to be the very best staff we could be on a nightly foundation.”

The Bucks picked up their newest win with a mix of sturdy ball motion to generate alternatives behind the 3-point line. Milwaukee shot 44.7% from 3-point vary and made a season-high 17 3’s, all of which had been assisted.

Antetokounmpo had 26 factors, 14 rebounds and 11 assists on Friday, snapping his streak of six straight 30-point video games, however recording the thirtieth triple double of his profession. Vacation scored 29 factors with eight rebounds and 6 assists, his fourth straight recreation with no less than 25 factors.

Collectively, Antetokounmpo and Vacation scored or assisted on 87 of the Bucks’ 115 factors.

“Passing the ball creates loads of power,” Antetokounmpo stated. “We had been capable of transfer the ball — all people was touching it, all people was driving and kicking it, all people was getting open photographs, open appears to be like. And it was enjoyable. Guys had been making photographs and it was simply contagious.”

The Bucks host the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Saturday night time in Milwaukee on a back-to-back within the newest check for his or her undefeated report.

“8-0 is nice, however I am simply happy with how the staff is taking part in,” Antetokounmpo stated. “How we’re defending collectively and the way we’re transferring the ball. How we’re getting open photographs. How we’re being unselfish and the way we’re constructing good habits. Hopefully these habits can carry over to the following recreation [Saturday] and to the 74 video games we now have left plus playoffs.”