CNN
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Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo posted impressive stats on Saturday, posting his first career 40-point triple-double as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Washington Wizards 124-114.

The “Greek Freak” scored 42 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists on 62.5% shooting from the field in the win, for his third triple-double in his last six games. He returned to the lineup after not playing against the Miami Heat on Tuesday because of swelling in his left knee.

The win moves Milwaukee to 10-9 on the season, the first time the Bucks have been above .500 since they won their season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. Although the squad featured All-Star talent, the team struggled early in the year, losing eight of their first ten games.

Now Milwaukee has won six straight and Antetokounmpo believes a switch has been flipped.

“We know how to win games,” he said in his post-game interview. “If it was the third or fourth game of the season, we probably would have lost that game. But now we know that no matter how nice it looks, if we play well, we have to find a way to win the game.”

Antetokounmpo is averaging 32.9 points per game, leading the league. He is in the top five in rebounds per game with 11.9.

“He was great,” head coach Doc Rivers said of his star player after the game. “He scores, but more importantly, he gets everyone involved. It’s so difficult to help a passer who can score. There are a lot of guys in this league who can score, but not by passing.”

The Bucks entered this season with new championship aspirations after trading for eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard in the 2023 offseason and hiring Rivers as head coach later that season. In last year’s playoffs, they suffered an embarrassing first-round exit to the Indiana Pacers.

Lillard added 25 points and 10 assists against the Wizards, the third time he and Antetokounmpo both scored at least 25 points and 10 assists in the same game, the most by any teammate in NBA history.

It was another disappointing loss for a young Washington team still in the early stages of rebuilding. Wizards fans likely already have their eyes on next year’s draft lottery after watching their team lose a 14th straight game and fall to 2-16 this season.

However, the backcourt duo of Jordan Poole and Malcolm Brogdon put in an impressive performance, scoring 31 and 29 points respectively, as Washington refused to go away for most of the game, although errors down the stretch allowed the Bucks to clinch the win secure.

The Wizards face a tall order if they want to break their losing streak in their next game when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have an NBA-best 17-3 record, in the NBA Cup on Tuesday.

Milwaukee is also in action on Tuesday and will face the Detroit Pistons to determine the winner of East Group B in the Cup.