The Milwaukee Bucks were booed off the floor at halftime Tuesday night, and Giannis Antetokounmpo answered in kind moments later during a 139-106 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Fiserv Forum.
Down more than 30 at the break, the two-time MVP opened the third quarter with a layup over Julius Randle, drew a foul, fell to the court and turned toward the stands with two thumbs down while audibly booing the crowd. Antetokounmpo said it was the first time he remembers being jeered in Milwaukee.
“Whenever I get booed, I boo back,” he said after finishing with 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting. “I play for my teammates, myself and my family. If people don’t believe in me, that’s on them.”
The 2026 gesture mirrored reactions he has shown on the road this season, including after an October game-winner in Indiana and a highlight dunk versus Chicago.
Milwaukee (17-23) has dropped two straight and could not capitalize on a Timberwolves lineup missing center Rudy Gobert (one-game suspension for flagrant-foul accumulation) and guard Anthony Edwards (right foot injury management). Minnesota never trailed, led by as many as 41 and removed its starters early in the fourth quarter.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers attributed the flat performance to fatigue following a four-game, eight-day West Coast trip, calling his club “dead-legged.” Antetokounmpo disagreed.
“It’s not dead legs,” he said. “Maybe I wasn’t as focused as I should have been, but that can’t be an excuse. The effort was low, and you can’t have that.”
Milwaukee heads back on the road Wednesday for a two-game trip, still looking to regain footing after its latest home disappointment.
Source: ESPN
