MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo offered a handshake to Jaylen Brown after committing an offensive foul against the Boston Celtics wing — only to pull his hand back at the last moment.
The incident in the first half of the Celtics’ 113-107 victory over the Bucks on Sunday caused Brown to refer to Antetokounmpo as a “child.” Antetokounmpo responded that he was only joking around.
Click to Gallery
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo hits the ball with his head after a shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo falls in front of Boston Celtics' Jrue Holiday during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown is fouled shooting between Milwaukee Bucks' Chris Livingston and Andre Jackson Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown drives between Milwaukee Bucks' Pat Connaughton and Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7) drives past Milwaukee Bucks' Taurean Prince, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown, right, reacts after scoring during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Indiana Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin (00) puts up a shot as Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
This sequence began after Antetokounmpo’s elbow appeared to inadvertently hit Brown’s face in the second quarter, resulting in an offensive foul against the two-time MVP.
As they headed back up the floor, Antetokounmpo held out his hand toward Brown, only to pull it back over the top of his face while smiling at him. Antetokounmpo then reached out his hand again, but the Celtics’ three-time All-Star looked down without reciprocating.
The scene got plenty of attention on social media.
“Giannis is a child,” said Brown, who scored 14 points in his return after missing four games with a hip injury. “I’m just focused on helping my team get a win, and that’s what we did tonight.”
Antetokounmpo said he didn’t mean to offend anyone.
“It’s a joke,” said Antetokounmpo, who had 43 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. “We’re playing basketball. At the same time, we’ve got to have fun when we play. I think he’s an incredible player. He does whatever he can to help his team win, an extremely competitive player. We’ve played against one another many times. I think we’re always trying to joke around within the flow of the game. It’s something I do with my kids when we play around. Sometimes, I’m like, ‘Give me a high-five. Oh, you’re too slow.’ I just did it. I enjoyed it, though. It was fun.”
When Antetokounmpo was told about Brown’s postgame comment, the 6-foot-11 forward went into more detail with his response.
“This is who I am,” Antetokounmpo said. “I play the game with fun, joy. I try to surround myself around young people so I can stay young myself, try to be around my kids a lot, my nieces, and sometimes I might go out there at times on the court when I play and do stuff like that, but at the end of the day, as I said, I think he’s an incredible player. He always does the right thing to help his team win. But I’m just going to continue to be me.
“At the end of the day, if I’m called a child, so be it. I have three children of my own and I think six nieces. I take care of a lot of kids around here. Sometimes when you’re around a kid, you try to act like a kid. It’s fun. It’s fun to be around them. So I just try to go out there and have fun. Again, great player, great competitor. If I have another opportunity, I’ll do it again.”
Antetokounmpo and Brown had another episode in the fourth quarter. After Antetokounmpo drove to the basket with the game tied at 95-all, Brown received a flagrant foul for making significant impact to an airborne player in an unnecessary manner.
Antetokounmpo made the two ensuing free throws to put Milwaukee ahead with 6:52 remaining, but the Bucks didn’t score on their ensuing possession and Boston took the lead for good a minute later.
Brown was asked if that second-quarter incident was on his mind when that flagrant foul occurred.
“Naw,” Brown replied. “I was playing basketball.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo hits the ball with his head after a shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo falls in front of Boston Celtics' Jrue Holiday during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown is fouled shooting between Milwaukee Bucks' Chris Livingston and Andre Jackson Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown drives between Milwaukee Bucks' Pat Connaughton and Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7) drives past Milwaukee Bucks' Taurean Prince, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown, right, reacts after scoring during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Indiana Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin (00) puts up a shot as Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
TURIN, Italy (AP) — The soccer-like “Ole” chants. The vast array of fans dressed in his theme color of orange. The banners and signs — one of which declared, “Sinner for president.”
Late in the second set of his victory over Taylor Fritz at the ATP Finals on Tuesday, Jannik Sinner used all the adulation in his home country to his advantage.
When the top-ranked player produced a backhand passing shot up the line while on the run, he held his finger up to his ear to encourage the crowd to cheer louder.
“I read a little bit where he was playing and I just tried to pass him somehow because if not, it would have been a very easy volley for him,” Sinner said. “The crowd is helping me a lot. This is a very special occasion for me.
“I’ve always liked playing at home. If you like the fans and the people supporting you, it’s a big help,” Sinner added.
Sinner made it two wins in two matches before his home fans at the finals, beating Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in a rematch of the U.S. Open final that the Italian also won in straight sets.
Sinner turned up his intensity when it mattered most. He survived a marathon service game midway through the first set then broke his American opponent with a huge forehand up the line on his first set point.
During and after the match, the crowd inside Inalpi arena chanted, “Ole, Ole, Ole; Sin-ner, Sin-ner.”
Sinner saved the only break point that he faced and nearly matched Fritz with six aces to the American’s seven.
But Fritz tested Sinner over two close sets and thought his performance was a step up from the U.S. Open final.
“There’s a lot of positives I can take out of it,” Fritz said. “For all of the match, I didn’t feel overwhelmed. I felt like I was right there.”
Sinner, who beat Alex de Minaur in his opening match at the season-ending event for the top eight players, improved to 23-1 in his last five tournaments.
Earlier, Daniil Medvedev moved back into contention with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over De Minaur following a temper tantrum in his previous match.
Medvedev didn’t face a single break point and was generally much sharper than in his straight-set loss to Fritz on Sunday — during which he smashed his racket and lost his cool twice.
Sinner leads the group while Fritz and Medvedev are next with one win each.
De Minaur, who is making his debut at finals, lost both of his opening matches.
The top two finishers from each round-robin group advance to the semifinals.
On Thursday, Medvedev faces Sinner and De Minaur plays Fritz in the final matches of the group.
In the other group on Monday, Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud beat Andrey Rublev and Carlos Alcaraz, respectively.
Sinner is playing at home for the first time since it was announced before his U.S. Open title that he tested positive in two separate drug tests this year.
A decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in September. A final ruling in the case is expected early next year.
When his match was over, Medvedev closed his eyes and held his fingers to his ears. Then he wrote on a camera lens, “Block the noise.”
“I went into this match also blocking the noise even from myself,” Medvedev said. “No like tantrums and stuff. Just block the noise. And I really didn’t care what was happening on the court. I just tried to play and it was a good feeling."
Medvedev won the finals in 2020 — the last edition held in London.
“The more popular you become, the more fans you get, the more haters you get, the more attention you get. And sometimes even the good noise can make you off balance,” Medvedev said.
“You know, you win everything and everyone thinks you’re a god. ... Then you lose two matches and everyone is like, ‘Finished, your career is finished.’ So sometimes it’s good just (to) block it,” Medvedev added.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
United States' Taylor Fritz returns the ball to Italy's Jannik Sinner during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Italy's Jannik Sinner returns the ball to United States' Taylor Fritz during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
United States' Taylor Fritz reacts during the singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals against Italy's Jannik Sinner, at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Italy's Jannik Sinner returns the ball to United States' Taylor Fritz during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning the singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals against United States' Taylor Fritz, at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during the singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals against United States' Taylor Fritz, at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Italy's Jannik Sinner returns the ball to United States' Taylor Fritz during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Russia's Daniil Medvedev returns the ball to Australia's Alex de Minaur during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Russia's Daniil Medvedev Australia's Alex de Minaur returns the ball to Russia's Daniil Medvedev Australia's Alex de Minaur during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Australia's Alex de Minaur returns the ball to Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Russia's Daniil Medvedev returns the ball to Australia's Alex de Minaur during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Australia's Alex de Minaur returns the ball to Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Russia's Daniil Medvedev returns the ball to Australia's Alex de Minaur during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Russia's Daniil Medvedev Australia's Alex de Minaur returns the ball to Russia's Daniil Medvedev Australia's Alex de Minaur during their singles tennis match of the ATP World Tour Finals at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
