Bucks Post Highest Single-game Field-goal Percentage By Any Team In 21st Century

Giannis Antetokounmpo told his Milwaukee Bucks teammates they were fighting for their lives.

They responded by shooting for the highest single-game percentage by any team this century.

Milwaukee snapped a four-game skid by shooting a franchise-record 68.9 51 of 74 from the floor in a 133-123 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. According to Sportradar, no team had shot for that high a percentage in a game since March 13, 1998, when the Los Angeles Clippers shot 69.3 61 of 88 in a 152-120 triumph over the Toronto Raptors.

"I kept saying to my teammates, 'We're fighting for our lives. We're fighting for our lives,' " Antetokounmpo said. "They think I'm joking, but I'm not joking. We're fighting for our lives right here. Every win counts."

The Bucks are sixth in the Eastern Conference standings and on track for their lowest playoff seed since 2018. They were coming off a 145-124 loss to Atlanta in which they allowed the most points they'd given up all season. They don't know when - or if - seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard will return from the deep vein thrombosis in his right calf that has him taking blood-thinning medication.