Antetokounmpo Responds to Home-Court Boos as Bucks Fall 139-106 to Short-Handed Timberwolves
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Milwaukee, WI — Giannis Antetokounmpo answered a rare round of boos from the Fiserv Forum crowd with a double thumbs-down during the Milwaukee Bucks’ 139-106 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
The Bucks trailed by more than 30 points at halftime, prompting audible disapproval from fans. After opening the third quarter with a layup through contact, Antetokounmpo gestured toward the stands, the same response he has shown on the road this season.
“Whenever I get booed, I boo back,” the two-time MVP said postgame. He finished with 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting but did not apologize for his reaction. “I play for my teammates, myself and my family. I’ve been here 13 years. I’m basically the all-time leader in everything.”
Antetokounmpo added that it was the first time he could recall being booed in Milwaukee.
The defeat dropped Milwaukee to 17-23 and came against a Minnesota lineup missing starters Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves never trailed, built a 41-point cushion and had the Bucks’ starters on the bench early in the fourth quarter.
Head coach Doc Rivers pointed to fatigue following a lengthy West Coast trip, but Antetokounmpo rejected that explanation. “I’m never going to say dead legs,” he said. “The effort was low. You cannot have that.”
The Bucks will attempt to regroup before hosting their next opponent later this week.
Source: Hoops Wire
