To appreciate the fourth-quarter letdown, we need context. The Bucks trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, with Sacramento’s fast-paced attack—led by De’Aaron Fox and a depleted but scrappy Kings roster—exploiting Milwaukee’s thin lineup. Giannis, battling right patella tendinopathy and visibly less than 100%, turned the tide in the third quarter. He erupted for 22 points in that frame alone, slashing to the rim, bullying defenders, and cutting the Kings’ lead to just 3 heading into the final period. It was vintage Giannis: unstoppable, relentless, and the sole reason Milwaukee had a pulse. It was actually quite funny as the same people who were saying “oh, it’s the injury” in the first half were beating each other with superlatives! Social media buzzed with praise.On paper, it was shaping up to be another signature Giannis takeover. Then the fourth quarter happened.
GIANNIS WITH THE POSTER. 😤🔥 pic.twitter.com/I3atArds7A
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) March 23, 2025
The Collapse: Fourth-Quarter Floundering
With the Bucks down 3 entering the final 12 minutes, Giannis briefly sat as Milwaukee’s supporting cast—Kevin Porter Jr., Brook Lopez, and company—opened the quarter with a 7-0 run to seize a 4-point lead. Giannis re-entered with momentum on his side, but what followed was a masterclass in late-game inefficiency.
In the fourth, Giannis was his usual self, missing free throws. In a 6-point game where every possession mattered. His lone make was a layup. After that? Silence. He watched as Sacramento’s defence sagged off him, daring him to shoot or pass. Here is the play by play as per NBA.com official stats:
5.50 SUB: Antetokounmpo FOR Lopez, Bucks ahead 104-100
3:05 Antetokounmpo Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover
1:05 MISS Antetokounmpo 5′ Driving Floating Jump Shot
0:24 Antetokounmpo S.FOUL
0:20 Antetokounmpo Free Throw 1 of 2 (32 PTS)
The Bucks won despite Giannis, not because of him. Milwaukee’s bench and role players held a +7 advantage to start the quarter, and Lopez’s timely blocks (he finished with 3) plus Porter Jr.’s 18 points off the bench sealed the deal. Giannis’ plus-minus in the fourth was a team-worst -2, a stark contrast to his +15 for the game, underscoring how the Bucks thrived when he wasn’t the focal point late.
Why It Went Wrong
Giannis’ fourth-quarter struggles against the Kings weren’t an anomaly—they’re a microcosm of his well-documented late-game issues. Here’s what went awry:
- Free-Throw Nightmares
Giannis went 8-for-13 from the line overall, but his 0-for-3 in the fourth was inexcusable. Sacramento, lacking Domantas Sabonis’ rim protection, resorted to fouling Giannis to slow him down. His misses—airballs and bricks alike—killed momentum and gave the Kings life in a game they had no business staying in. For a player averaging 30.2 points on 59.9% shooting this season, his 68-70% career free-throw clip remains a glaring liability. - No Perimeter Threat
The Kings packed the paint, daring Giannis to step outside his comfort zone. He obliged with a missed jumper and hesitated on open looks, allowing Sacramento to collapse without consequence. His 31% three-point shooting this season didn’t inspire confidence, and it showed—he didn’t even attempt a triple in the fourth. - Fatigue and Injury
Playing 35 minutes on a gimpy knee, Giannis looked gassed. His drives lacked their usual explosiveness, and his decision-making faltered. A turnover late in the quarter—a sloppy pass under pressure—nearly swung the game back to Sacramento. Posts on X noted he was “clearly less than 100%,” yet the Bucks leaned on him heavily, amplifying his fatigue. - Defensive Attention
Sacramento keyed in on Giannis, double-teaming him on drives and forcing him to defer. Without Lillard or Portis to draw attention, he faced a wall of bodies and couldn’t adjust. His 1 assist in the fourth pales next to his 6.0 season average, highlighting how the Kings neutralized his playmaking.
The Eye Test: Frustration Mounts
Watching the fourth unfold, Giannis’ frustration was palpable. After missing his first free throw, he shook his head, muttering to himself. A botched drive led to a pleading gesture toward the refs for a foul that never came. On defense, he nabbed 2 steals and a block for the game, but in the fourth, his effort waned—Fox blew by him for a layup that cut the lead to 4 with 3:12 left. The Bucks survived, but Giannis’ body language screamed exhaustion and irritation, a far cry from the third-quarter titan who’d dominated.
Does It Matter?
In isolation, this was one bad quarter in a win—hardly a death knell for Giannis’ season (30.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists). He’s 6-1 against the Kings in his last seven matchups, averaging 35.0 points, and last night’s 32-point, 17-rebound effort was heroic given the circumstances. Bucks fans hailed it as “a tough win,” crediting his overall impact.
But the pattern persists. Giannis’ career fourth-quarter playoff numbers (5.8 points, 44% shooting) and clutch-time inefficiencies (sub-50% true shooting) echo last night’s meltdown. Against a Kings team missing Sabonis and ripe for the taking, his late-game fade could’ve been fatal against stronger foes like Boston or Denver. With Milwaukee at 39-30 and clinging to the East’s 5th seed, these lapses raise questions about his reliability when the stakes rise.
Giannis didn’t lose the game—he just didn’t win it. The Bucks’ depth bailed him out, but as the playoffs loom, he’ll need to fix these flaws. A mid-range jumper, a quicker free-throw routine, or simply better stamina could turn these off nights into clutch heroics. At 30, he’s still in his prime, and his 2021 Finals Game 6 (17 fourth-quarter points) proves he can deliver.
Last night, Giannis was a titan for three quarters and a ghost in the fourth. It wasn’t a disaster, but it was bad enough to remind us: even the Greek Freak isn’t invincible when the clock winds down. Bucks fans can only hope he saves his best for when it matters most—because against the Kings, he left them sweating bullets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Fourth-Quarter Struggles: A Deep Dive
To understand Giannis’ fourth-quarter woes, let’s start with the data. While his overall stat lines are jaw-dropping—averaging around 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in recent seasons—his production tends to dip when the game is on the line. According to NBA.com stats for the 2024-2025 season (as of March 22, 2025), Giannis averages just 6.1 points in the fourth quarter on 48.2% field goal shooting, a noticeable drop from his full-game efficiency, which hovers around 55-57%. His free-throw percentage, already a career-long Achilles’ heel at 68-70%, plummets to 62% in the final frame.
In clutch situations—defined as the last five minutes of a game with the score within five points—his numbers are even more telling. Giannis’ usage rate remains sky-high (often exceeding 35%), but his true shooting percentage dips below 50%, and his turnovers spike to an average of 1.2 per clutch game. Compare this to peers like Nikola Jokić (58% true shooting in the clutch) or Kevin Durant (consistently above 60%), and the gap becomes apparent.
Perhaps most glaring is his playoff performance. During the Bucks’ 2024 playoff run, Giannis averaged 5.8 points in the fourth quarter on 44% shooting, with a free-throw percentage of 59%. In elimination games, those numbers shrink further, amplifying the perception that he shrinks when it matters most.
Memorable Meltdowns
Stats only tell part of the story. Giannis’ fourth-quarter struggles have produced some high-profile stinkers that fuel the narrative:
- 2023 Playoffs vs. Miami Heat: In Game 4 of the first-round upset, Giannis went 1-for-5 in the fourth quarter, missing key free throws and turning the ball over twice in the final three minutes. The Bucks lost, and the Heat went on to eliminate them.
- 2024 Finals Hopes Dashed: In a January 2025 showdown against the Celtics, Giannis scored just 4 points in the fourth on 2-for-7 shooting, as Boston pulled away with a 12-0 run to seal the game.
- Clutch Free-Throw Fiascos: Against the 76ers in February 2025, Giannis missed 4 of 6 free throws in the final two minutes, turning a one-point lead into a three-point loss.
These moments stick in fans’ minds, overshadowing his otherwise dominant play.
Does It Matter?
Critics argue that Giannis’ fourth-quarter struggles undermine his status as an all-time great. After all, legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant were defined by their ability to take over games late. He’s not incapable of clutch heroics; he’s just inconsistent. And maybe he can’t do it anymore since the league has figured him out and he has not developed counters.
The Greek Freak’s legacy isn’t defined by his fourth-quarter woes yet. At 30 years old, he has time to evolve. If he can address these flaws, the narrative will shift from “Giannis disappears late” to “Giannis conquered his demons.” Until then, Bucks fans will hold their breath every time the clock ticks down—and hope their superstar proves the doubters wrong.
