Milwaukee, WI
How Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Milwaukee Bucks ended the longest winning streak in American History
The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers have been on an unprecedented streak — they received 33 video games in a row, constructing their case as the best crew of all time. However then, they matched up towards Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Milwaukee Bucks on January 9, 1972.
Kareem dominated Wilt
The Bucks ended up beating the Lakers, ending the longest profitable streak in all American sports activities leagues. They have been led by Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who outplayed Wilt Chamberlain by scoring 39 factors together with 20 rebounds. The Lakers huge man put up 15 factors, 12 rebounds, and 6 blocks in a 120-104 loss in Milwaukee.
Jerry West led his crew with 20 factors however solely shot 5-for-16 from the sphere. Jim McMillian, Gail Goodrich, and Completely happy Hairston all had 18 factors for the Lakers who misplaced their first sport since October 31, 1971.
Scroll to Proceed
Lucius Allen put up 18 for Milwaukee. Oscar Robertson and John Block each added 17, serving to the Bucks seize their twentieth win in 21 video games.
“We’ll beat them,” the Bucks’ head coach Larry Costello mentioned earlier than the sport to The New York Instances. “We’re the champs, and all they’ve is the streak.”
Enjoying down Bucks’ win
After the sport, Chamberlain and McMillian performed down the Bucks’ victory by saying that the Lakers’ poor efficiency was the one motive Milwaukee got here out on high.
“If I needed to single out one factor, I might say that the Bucks’ aggressive protection was the distinction. We needed to work for each shot we took, and we could not get our working sport going as a result of they picked up our guards within the backcourt,” Wilt mentioned.
“I do not wish to take something away from Milwaukee, however this is without doubt one of the weakest video games we have performed in a very long time,” McMillian added.
The Lakers would get their revenge by beating the Bucks within the Western Convention Finals, and ultimately profitable the title. Additionally, their 33-game win streak continues to be the longest in NBA historical past.