Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a late winning dunk as the Milwaukee Bucks edged the Charlotte Hornets 122-121 at Fiserv Forum, a result that Antetokounmpo believes shows clear progress. The victory gave Milwaukee three wins from the last four games and a timely lift before a demanding road schedule.

The Bucks forward scored 30 points on 61% shooting, added 10 rebounds and five assists, and set an NBA record with his 158th game reaching that 30/10/5 stat line. The performance continued a strong individual season while Milwaukee tries to push back into the Eastern Conference play-in race.

Reflecting on the recent upturn, Antetokounmpo stressed that the team is heading the right way and spoke positively about the current run. "It feels good. We have won three of the last four. We are a good place," said the two-time MVP, emphasising that performances are improving after a difficult stretch.

The narrow win came just one game after a 114-113 defeat against the Washington Wizards, a result that still frustrated Antetokounmpo. "Do I wish that we could win the previous game too [114-113 loss to the Washington Wizards]? Yes. But we are in a good place. We are going to a West Coast trip, four games. Four hard games. We got to fight, give our best, compete in all games on at a time and hopefully we can come out of this on the winning side. But we are playing, we are playing. We are not there yet, but we are trending towards the right direction."

The NBA confirmed Antetokounmpo now holds the all-time mark for games with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, moving clear with his 158th such outing.

That milestone underlined Antetokounmpo’s influence as Milwaukee tries to stabilise results.

Despite beating Charlotte, the Milwaukee Bucks stay 11th in the Eastern Conference at 15-20, sitting just outside the play-in positions. Doc Rivers’ team now heads west for a four-game trip that could shape their season, with Antetokounmpo calling for full effort every night.

The upcoming schedule features meetings with the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets, all away from home. That run presents a serious test for the Milwaukee Bucks defence and depth while Giannis Antetokounmpo maintains confidence that recent improved form can help the team climb the conference standings.

Milwaukee’s late escape against Charlotte, Antetokounmpo’s record-setting stat line and the team’s 3-1 run over the last four games provide optimism, yet the Bucks remain outside the top 10 in the East. The next four fixtures on the West Coast will show how far this Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo momentum can carry them.