MIL 134, IND 123: Giannis Antetokounmpo Scores 31 Points
Sarah Kowalski
Orthopedic Nurse ยท Milwaukee Bucks fan
Bucks Keep It Simple, Bobby Portis Goes Nuclear
Milwaukee 134, Indiana 123
Look, I'm gonna be honest, I had to sit back and appreciate this one as a Bucks fan first, fantasy analyst second. Home game, solid win, and some absolutely wild individual performances. But here's what matters for your roster: The Bucks' role players went absolutely bananas, and one Pacers guard had the game of his season.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 55.0 | 58.8 | 31/14/8 | 27.6/9.8/5.4 | +3.4 |
| Bobby Portis | 57.0 | 50.5 | 29/10/3 | 13.7/6.4/1.5 | +15.3 |
| Ryan Rollins | 48.0 | 38.9 | 20/2/7 | 16.8/4.6/5.6 | +3.2 |
| Aaron Nesmith | 47.0 | 35.9 | 32/2/1 | 13.5/4.3/2.1 | +18.5 |
| Jarace Walker | 38.0 | 35.6 | 14/8/6 | 11.3/5.1/2.4 | +2.7 |
| Kyle Kuzma | 38.0 | 31.6 | 8/3/8 | 13.2/4.6/2.6 | -5.2 |
| T.J. McConnell | 29.0 | 28.9 | 9/2/11 | 9.3/2.2/4.9 | -0.3 |
| Myles Turner | 27.0 | 22.8 | 13/4/0 | 12.2/5.4/1.5 | +0.8 |
| Jay Huff | 28.0 | 22.2 | 16/1/0 | 9.5/3.9/1.3 | +6.5 |
| Kobe Brown | 24.0 | 21.7 | 9/6/5 | 4.6/2.7/1.0 | +4.4 |
Bobby Portis is Worth Your Waiver Priority This Week
Let's start with the insanity. Bobby Portis walked into Fiserv Forum and dropped 29 points on 11-21 shooting with 6 threes in 26 minutes. That's 50.5 Yahoo points, which is +15.3 from his season average. For context, he's been a solid 13.7 PPG guy all year. This wasn't a game where he carried a bad team or got extra minutes because the bench played garbage time. This was pure, unadulterated offensive efficiency.
Here's what worries me though, and I say this as someone who watches the Bucks constantly: I don't think this is the new normal. Giannis (31/14/8, 58.8 Yahoo FP) was doing what Giannis does, and the Bucks didn't need Portis to replicate this every night. The shots fell. The rhythm was there. But in a playoff-intensity matchup, this looks more like a career night than a predictable pattern.
That said, if you're in a deeper league and Portis is available, grab him. His role is secure, he's getting 26 minutes a night, and on a team with an All-NBA guy drawing double teams, there's enough spacing for him to keep eating. Just don't expect 50 point games weekly.
Aaron Nesmith Just Became Must-Start Everywhere
Now flip to Aaron Nesmith for Indiana. The dude went 10-14 from the field, hit 7 threes, and dropped 32 points in 28 minutes. That's 35.9 Yahoo FP and +18.5 from his 13.5 PPG average. This is different from Portis. Nesmith's been inconsistent all season, but that shooting stroke looked grooved in tonight. When a guy shoots 71% from three (7-10 from deep), that's not luck. That's connection.
The question is whether this is the real Nesmith or a one-off. I'm leaning real because his role in Indiana's offense has been defined. He's the off-ball guy, he's getting chances, and his shot has the green light. If you own him, you start him next game. If you don't own him and he's still available in your league, this is your add. Don't wait for another 32-point game to make the move.
The Bench Depth Story
Ryan Rollins (20/2/7, 38.9 Yahoo FP) and T.J. McConnell (9/2/11, 28.9 Yahoo FP) both had solid nights running their offenses. Rollins came off the bench and played 36 minutes, which tells you the Pacers needed everything from their guards with their main options sidelined. McConnell was steady with 11 assists, exactly what you'd expect from him. These aren't explosion plays, they're floor plays. Useful in deeper leagues but not the story here.
Jarace Walker (14/8/6, 35.6 Yahoo FP) continues to be a low-volume guy who produces when given the chance. He's got the athleticism and the role, but he's not someone you can bank on for consistent minutes. In 8-team leagues, he's a stream. In 10+, he's worth a flyer if you need wings.
The Let Down: Kyle Kuzma Was Quiet
Kyle Kuzma finished 8/3/8 with 31.6 Yahoo FP, which was -5.2 from his season average. He played 35 minutes, so it's not a minutes issue. The Bucks just didn't let him eat. Sometimes that happens. You still have to start him next game, but his production is highly dependent on volume, and this game showed what happens when defenses build a game plan around taking away his scoring opportunities.
Bottom Line
This was a Bucks home win that fluked out some incredible individual performances. Portis won't repeat that. Nesmith should be added in all leagues. Giannis did his job. The role players filled their roles. That's a victory in fantasy terms, but only if you act on what you saw. Nesmith's your move this week. Portis is the speculative add if you've got roster space. Everyone else is exactly what their season average told you they'd be.