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“Giannis took 3 years to get as many 40+ point Playoffs games as Steph Curry?”: How Bucks MVP amassed an equal number of 40+ point games as Warriors no. 30

Samir Mehdi
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“Giannis took 3 years to get as many 40+ point Playoffs games as Steph Curry?”: How Bucks MVP amassed an equal number of 40+ point games as Warriors no. 30

Giannis has gotten himself as many 40+ point games as Steph Curry in two years as Curry has had since 2013. 

Giannis seems to be the main-man ushering in a new age for the NBA currently. These 2022 NBA Playoffs are the first Playoff in 17 years without neither LeBron James or Kevin Durant. Instead, teams in the Semis are being led by up-and-coming superstars like Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, and Jayson Tatum. 

At the helm of it all is the reigning NBA Finals MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks are currently holding a 2-1 series lead over the Boston Celtics after a nail-biting finish that had Al Horford tip in a shot just after the buzzer sounded, leading to a 2-point Bucks win.

Also read: “Jayson Tatum averages just 15 points against Giannis!”: StatMuse reveals Celtics star’s horrifying career stats vs Bucks as Boston falls 1-2 in series

However, at the crux of last night’s Game 3 was the 42 point masterpiece the 2x MVP put up that had the Celtics’ interior defense in absolute shambles. This is the first 40+ point game for him in this postseason and if this year is anything thing like last year, it certainly won’t be his last. 

Giannis and Steph Curry have the same number of 40+ point games in the Playoffs? 

The first time Giannis ever scored 40+ points in the Playoffs as when he dropped 41 on Detroit in 2019. He would then put up 40+ points on 4 separate occasions in the 2021 Playoffs including a 50 point, legacy defining game in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals. 

Another player who’s had six 40+ point games in his entire postseason career is Steph Curry. His first was in 2013 and his most recent was in a Game 3 win over the Toronto Raptors when he had 47.

Also read: “If you don’t fail, you cannot succeed! Even Michael Jordan struggled in postseason”: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s speech after Game 3 win against the Celtics is what makes Greek Freak THE BEST

The main difference between the two is that Steph took 7 Playoff runs to get to the same number of 40+ point games as Giannis did, who did it in nearly half the amount of time. 

Of course, several years of Curry’s career were with Kevin Durant who took up a major role in the offense for the Golden State Warriors. This stat isn’t to disparage Curry as it is more so to shed light on just how incredible the ‘Greek Freak’ truly is.

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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