In the first match-up between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama, neither the Freak nor the Alien disappointed.

Antetokounmpo had 44 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists, helping the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the San Antonio Spurs, 125-121, in a high-octane finish on Thursday night.

The Bucks’ superstar drained a pair of threes in the last three minutes to close out the Spurs. Those would end up being his only made threes in the game, shooting 2-of-3 (66.6%) from deep and 19-of-28 (68%) from the field.

Wembanyama, the Spurs' prized No.1 overall pick, put up 27 points (10-of-18 from the field), 9 rebounds and 5 blocks in the losing effort. Two of his rejections came in the clutch, blocking both Damian Lillard and Antetokounmpo to give the Spurs a chance late in the contest.

Both Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama provided mind-boggling highlights and countered one another's contributions all game long. 

Giannis started it with a spinning move in the lane for a throwdown, then Wemby answered with a self-alley-oop on the other end.

Wemby then had a sick play in transition, going behind the back to avoid Lillard and threw it down over Brook Lopez for the and-1. Giannis responded with a left-handed hammer over Wemby next time down. 

Giannis heaped praise on the Spurs' young star after the game.

“He’s unbelievable," Giannis said. "He’s an unbelievable talent, he can score at will — anytime he wants. [He] plays the right way, plays to win… it was good playing against him.”

With the win, Giannis and the Bucks end a two-game skid to move to 25-10 and second place in the East, while the Spurs sink further in the West at 5-29.