Giannis Antetokounmpo after Bucks blown out by shorthanded Wolves: ‘I boo back’

The boos were loud enough to register.

With the Bucks down more than 30 at halftime Tuesday night, the home crowd at Fiserv Forum let them have it. And Giannis Antetokounmpo heard every bit.

After opening the second half with a layup through contact from Julius Randle, Antetokounmpo responded by flashing two thumbs down toward the crowd while seated under the basket. It was the same gesture he has used on the road this season. This time, it was aimed at home, as reported by ESPN’s Jamal Collier.

“Whenever I get booed, I boo back,” Antetokounmpo said after scoring 25 points on nine-of-13 shooting in a 139-106 loss to the Timberwolves.

Antetokounmpo said it was the first time he could remember being booed in Milwaukee. He also made it clear he was not apologizing.

“I play for my teammates, myself and my family,” he said. “I’ve been here 13 years. I’m basically the all-time leader in everything.”

The frustration was understandable. The Bucks fell to 17-23 and were blown out by a Minnesota team missing Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards. The Wolves never trailed, led by as many as 41, and had Milwaukee’s starters on the bench early in the fourth.

Coach Doc Rivers pointed to fatigue after a long West Coast trip. Antetokounmpo did not.

“I’m never going to say dead legs,” he said. “The effort was low. You cannot have that.”