Versatility had quickly become the name of the game for Giannis Antetokounmpo, as he compensated for the absence of his All-NBA running mate by introducing the Charlotte Hornets to every facet of his game. In a poetic, “not if, but when” type of irony, one of the more memorable parts of Antetokounmpo’s playstyle — the fearsome, in-your-face poster jams — didn’t make its forceful introduction until the game’s 46th minute. Hoping to summon the needed energy to drag the Milwaukee Bucks over the finish line, Antetokounmpo revs his celebrated open-floor engine, weighing the options of a two-on-three fastbreak disadvantage in the game’s last half-minute. Formidable enough to offset almost any transition handicap, Antetokounmpo powers a loud one-handed flush through, encouraging a half-shock, half-celebration sort of murmur from Charlotte’s crowd. A much-discussed foul on Antetokounmpo would prompt a one-point loss for the Bucks on November 16, 2024. Reaffirming his status as the NBA’s No. 1 paint scorer nonetheless, Antetokounmpo dazzled through a triple-double, collecting 22 points (on 11-of-22 shooting), 15 rebounds, 12 assists, and four blocks. · Nov 16, 2024