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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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When Giannis Antetokounmpo walked off the floor at halftime Sunday in Sacramento, he had exactly as many career points as Larry Bird.
The tie lasted 54 seconds into the third quarter.
Antetokounmpo hit a pull-up jumper to put the Miami Heat ahead 70-59 and take sole possession of 40th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
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He finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds in Miami’s 114-108 win over the Kings, bringing his regular-season total to 21,806 at age 31.
Bird scored 21,791 points in 897 games for the Boston Celtics.
Antetokounmpo arrived at Golden 1 Center needing 14 points to match him and got there on seven first-half baskets. He went on to make 14 of 23 shots for the night, collecting all but one of his points on two-point field goals. He also had three assists, two steals and two blocks in 34 minutes.
The milestone came 10 games into Antetokounmpo’s first season with Miami after the July trade that ended his run with the Milwaukee Bucks.
It also came during a stretch in which the Heat have needed him on the glass.
He pulled down 14 rebounds in three straight road games, first against the Los Angeles Clippers, then against Golden State and again Sunday in Sacramento.
Miami still had work to do after Antetokounmpo passed Bird.
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The Heat led by as many as 16 in the third quarter, but Sacramento pulled even at 95 on two De’Andre Hunter free throws with 6:12 left in the fourth.
Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. finished with 32 points and 10 assists for the Kings. Miami outscored Sacramento 19-13 after the tie to improve to 4-6.
The Heat visit Utah on Tuesday, and Antetokounmpo has another Hall of Famer within reach.
Gary Payton finished his career with 21,813 points. It took seven baskets Sunday just to pull even with Bird. Eight points against the Jazz would put Antetokounmpo past Payton.
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