Giannis boos back as Bucks fans jeer halftime meltdown in Milwaukee

With the Milwaukee Bucks down by much than 30 points astatine halftime Tuesday night, the temper astatine Fiserv Forum turned ugly. Fans booed arsenic the squad walked disconnected the floor, and Giannis Antetokounmpo said afterward it was the archetypal clip helium tin retrieve proceeding that benignant of absorption astatine home.

The vexation spilled into the 3rd quarter. After Antetokounmpo scored the archetypal handbasket aft halftime — a layup implicit Timberwolves guardant Julius Randle that drew a foul and near him connected the level nether the rim — helium responded to the assemblage with 2 thumbs-down and booed backmost portion inactive seated.

“Whenever I get booed, I boo back,” Antetokounmpo said aft the 139-106 loss, finishing with 25 points connected 9-of-13 shooting.

A acquainted gesture, present astatine home

The treble thumbs-down is not caller for Antetokounmpo this season. He has utilized it connected the roadworthy respective times, including aft his winning changeable against the Indiana Pacers successful October and again aft a windmill dunk against the Chicago Bulls. Tuesday was antithetic due to the fact that it happened successful Milwaukee, and helium made it wide that the mounting would not alteration his response.

“It doesn't matter,” helium said. “I play hoops for my teammates. I play hoops for myself and my family. When radical don't judge successful me, I don't thin to beryllium with them. I thin to bash what I'm present to do, what I'm bully at. ... It won't alteration location oregon away.”

He besides pushed backmost connected the thought that fans get to dictate his reactions. “I don't deliberation anybody has the close to archer maine however I should enactment connected [a] hoops tribunal aft I've been present 13 years,” helium said.

Bucks autumn to 17-23 arsenic Wolves dominate

Milwaukee has present dropped back-to-back games and sits astatine 17-23. The nonaccomplishment stung much due to the fact that Minnesota played without Rudy Gobert, suspended for a game, and Anthony Edwards, retired for wounded management. The Timberwolves ne'er trailed, led by arsenic galore arsenic 41, and Milwaukee’s starters were pulled aboriginal successful the fourth.

Coach Doc Rivers pointed to fatigue aft a agelong trip, saying, “I honestly thought we were playing with dormant legs.” Antetokounmpo disagreed: “That cannot beryllium an excuse.”