Giannis-Dame Lillard’s key stat that defines the Bucks’ success

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard they almost never fight for a goal. But Milwaukee Bucks‘ coach Doc Rivers looks at a different stat line than the two superstars that often separate a team’s wins and losses.

“When (Giannis) and Dame have a lot of assists, I think 20 between them, we’re a lot better when that happens,” Rivers said after Tuesday’s 130-115 win over the Sacramento Kings. “This is an easier way to play basketball.”

On Sunday, the team suffered its worst loss of the season, falling 140-106 to the New York Knicks. Antetokounmpo and Lillard combined for only seven dinars. Two days later, it was a very different story, as the Bucks snapped the Kings’ seven-game winning streak in a back-to-back victory.

Antetokounmpo had 13 assists on Tuesday for his 50th career triple-double, and Lillard had seven dimes. Their combined 20 assists were just two shy of the team’s 22 total against the Knicks.

“When he shoots the ball around and it pops up, you know, we build off of him, then we hit threes, we get layups,” Brook Lopez said of Giannis. “It’s so beautiful to watch and hard to stop.”

The offense was buzzing from the top on Tuesday. Taurean Prince earlier hit Antetokounmpo for two easy points. Lillard connected on back-to-back 3s and hit Andre Jackson for a layup. The attack was underway. The Bucks erupted for 47 points in the first quarter, their most in a quarter of the year. Antetokounmpo and Lillard combined for six assists in the quarter, nearly matching their total in Sunday’s loss to the Knicks.

To close out the quarter, shooting guard AJ Green pointed to Antetokounmpo at his left elbow. Antetokounmpo drove to the basket, drew his defender and Green before going straight back to Green, who popped up behind the arc on the right wing. Swish. When locked in, the team can space the floor with the dribble of its superstars, who read the defense and drive to the hoop or spray a series of shooters from behind the arc.

Antetokounmpo split his 13 assists among six different players. Lillard also splashed generously, with five players receiving his seven helpers.

The Bucks continued their winning streak from Tuesday with another easy win at home on Wednesday, defeating the Orlando Magic 122-93. In season defined by inconsistencyThe Bucks are riding a 5-1 streak, near full strength in a season that has rarely been the case, with home games coming up against the Raptors on Friday and the 76ers on Sunday.

“I think the way we’ve been playing is going in the direction we want to be,” Lillard said after Wednesday’s game. He pointed to a pair of convincing wins on back-to-back nights in January as the team found “the best version of itself.”