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Giannis Antetokounmpo · Positioned for a dose of sweet revenge against the team that eliminated them from In-Season Tournament play a season ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo had quite the knockout blow in mind for this season’s Round 2. Forceful and competitive in his every basketball move, the former two-time Most Valuable Player strings together a sequence, initially through a well-timed rotation and assertive swat, sending Bennedict Mathurin’s layup attempt to a neighboring city. Just as imposing in the open floor offensively, Antetokounmpo blends athleticism and ambition, sneaking into his teammate’s peripheral view just enough to encourage an off-the-glass alley-oop lob and emphatic jam. Antetokounmpo’s awakening couldn’t have been more timely, with the Indiana Pacers trimming a seemingly-safe 25-point lead to single-digits in the final five minutes. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar, in showing Indiana what it narrowly avoided dealing with during last spring’s playoffs, dominated through 37 points (on 14-of-21 shooting), 10 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals, and one block on November 22, 2024. · State of Mint