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[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Bucks 120, Warriors 110

The Milwaukee Bucks picked up their fourth win of the season, taking out an early-season Western Conference contender in the Golden State Warriors 120-110, even without Giannis Antetokounmpo. Ryan Rollins followed up his impressive performance from Tuesday night with another career day with his first 30-point game, scoring 32 points on 13/21 shooting. Myles Turner had his best game offensively as a Buck with 17 points on 7/12 shooting. Stephen Curry had 27 points on 8/19 shooting to lead the Warriors.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

Rollins followed up his career performance on Tuesday night with another fast start against Golden State. He rattled off the first five points with a layup and a three-ball off the dribble, as the Bucks took the lead early. The all-star firepower of the Warriors then came into play, with Draymond Green opening the game with a three, Jimmy Butler getting a layup, and Steph Curry hitting three free throws in the frame. It was a struggle to score offensively for players not named Rollins, as the first field goal made by another Buck was Myles Tumer with 5:40 to go in the quarter. Turner seemingly found his stride as he hit another one from distance, giving the Bucks a six point lead with 5:07 to go in the first. After the Warriors stars showed out early, the role players and bench gave them a boost, with Kuminga hitting back-to-back layups to get the Dubs back within one. After the Warriors retook a one point lead, it was all Bucks for the final 1:40 of the quarter. Milwaukee went on a 10-0 run to take a 34-25 lead heading into the second quarter.

After the Bucks pushed their lead up to as many as 10 points early in the second, the Warriors were able to cut it down to just four rather quickly. Enter Bobby Portis, who came in averaging just eight points per game on well below league-average shooting numbers. During his six and a half minutes on the floor in the quarter, he scored 10 points on 4/6 shooting from the field, including two threes. That microwave performance from Porits put the Bucks up by seven points with 5:26 to go in the first half. Golden State battled behind Kuminga and Butler and got it down to a one-point game with 3:37 to play. After being held without a field goal make in the first quarter, Curry started to heat up with a couple of three-pointers, including one that tied the game with 2:34 to play. The Bucks remained ahead or tied down the stretch, and thanks to a Rollins layup with 40 seconds left, Milwaukee went into the locker room up by two, 60-58.

Things continued to remain close between the two out-of-conference foes in the third quarter. Milwaukee did build up a five point lead early, but in a game against the Warriors, that type of lead doesn’t last long. The Dubs went on a 6-0 run to retake the lead with 8:36 on the game clock. Golden State built a lead as high as three during the stanza, but the Bucks never let it get larger than that. After a nearly two-minute scoring drought between the two sides, Milwaukee made their move as Kuzma and Cole Anthony hit back-to-back threes to take a two-point lead with 3:35 left in the third. The Bucks continued to push the advantage, going on another 6-0 run to take an eight-point lead with 1:21 to go thanks to a Rollins layup. Then an old nemesis rose from the dead, as Butler went on a personal 5-0 run to cut the Bucks lead down to three, 87-84, heading into the fourth quarter.

The mosquito fleet of Rollins and Anthony continued to show why they are a match made in heaven. In the early goings of the quarter, the pair scored the first five points to get the Bucks back up by six. Golden State wouldn’t be put away that early, as Buddy Hield hit back-to-back shots for five points to cut the lead back down to just one, 92-91 Milwaukee. After some back and forth, the Bucks created some breathing room. A 5-0 run by the Bucks got them a seven-point lead with 5:42 to go. The Warriors once again got it back within two points, but the incredible performances from Rollins and Turner helped spark the Bucks once again. Milwaukee would hit four threes in six attempts from deep as the crowd from Fiserv popped, with the Bucks leading by 11, 117-106. Golden State made it interesting by getting back within seven, but who else but Rollins would deliver the dagger three.

Stat That Stood Out​

What really made a difference in this game was the defense the Bucks played on Curry all night long. While he did score over 20 points, they didn’t really let him get a rhythm from beyond the arc. He finished the game 4/10 from beyond the arc—not the long-range show that Curry usually gives teams. Major credit to Rollins, Anthony, AJ Green, and Trent down the stretch, especially to close the door on Curry and the Warriors.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...urner-cole-anthony-stephen-curry-jimmy-butler

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Kevin Porter Jr. sustained meniscus injury, out four weeks

Of course, as the good vibes flow for the Bucks, fans have been dealt some bad news: Kevin Porter Jr. sustained a right knee meniscus injury during his on-court return-to-play training yesterday, according to the team.

The injury will require a minor orthopaedic procedure that will sideline him for approximately four weeks. Further updates will be provided as necessary.

We know the value KPJ provides to this team as a change-of-pace guard, and his absence is not easily papered over. Since joining the Bucks last season, Porter averaged 11.7 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.9 RPG, and 1.3 SPG on 49.4% shooting from the field and 40.8% from three.

That said, the emergence of Ryan Rollins, along with Cole Anthony’s play, will undoubtedly help replace the contributions Porter would have made to the team. We saw just last night that Rollins, in particular, is capable of handling more minutes and on-ball reps. If one of Rollins or Anthony gets injured, though, the guard room becomes very thin.

If fans are searching for “positives,” it is preferable that this injury has occurred early in the season, giving the team plenty of time to gel once KPJ returns. The Bucks play the Sacramento Kings tomorrow afternoon.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-inju...ort-kevin-porter-jr-ryan-rollins-cole-anthony

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Sacramento Kings Preview: The power of friendship

The Milwaukee Bucks face off against the Sacramento Kings this afternoon in a matinee game. Milwaukee beat Sacramento in both matchups last season and has had the wood over them for the past few years.

Where We’re At​

Things are going swimmingly in the Cream City, it’s fair to say, sitting at 4-1 with signature wins over the Knicks and Warriors in their last two games (along with a very close loss to the Cavs). The energy around the team seems to be the best it’s been in a few years, and the guys are really buying into their roles and contributing on both ends; this buy-in is reflected in the raw statistics, with the team ranking in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency thus far.

On the other hand, things are not going quite as well for the Kings, who sit at 1-4. This franchise has looked directionless for quite a while, and this team appears no different. There truly is a mishmash of randomly assorted guys on this squad, including but not limited to: superstars from yesteryear (Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan), helpful-but-maybe-past-it role players (Malik Monk and Dennis Schröder), and promising young guys who are sort of blocked from opportunities (Devin Carter and Keon Ellis). And yet, with all that said, this is still a team with lots of talent that can beat anyone on any given night (especially if Giannis doesn’t play).

Injury Report​

For Milwaukee, Giannis is questionable to play (left patellar tendinopathy), while Kevin Porter Jr. remains out (right meniscus tear).

For Sacramento, Malik Monk (personal reasons) and Keegan Murray (left thumb UCL injury recovery) are out, while rookie Nique Clifford is questionable (right hamstring strain).

Player To Watch​

With Ryan Rollins being the team’s presumed starting point guard (for the foreseeable future, at the very least), opposing teams will increasingly key in on his strengths and weaknesses. I think Rollins is one to watch now, coming off that explosive night against the Warriors. How much attention does he get from the Kings? Who do they put on him? Can he still get to those same looks? Rollins is no secret anymore, and now the real work starts.

How To Watch​

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 4:00 p.m. CDT.

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Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-game...-preview-start-time-tv-schedule-injury-report

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Kings 135, Bucks 133

The Milwaukee Bucks surprisingly dropped this game to the Sacramento Kings—who were 1-4 coming in—in a controversial fashion by a final score of 135-133. Giannis finished with just 26 points, the first time this season he’s been held under 30, while Kuzma added 22. Zach LaVine led all scorers with 31 points, while DeMar DeRozan had 29 in the winning effort for Sacramento.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

The Bucks got out of the gates quickly against the Kings, making their first five buckets to grab a 15-2 lead before Kings head coach Doug Christie called a timeout. It wasn’t just the offense that got the ball rolling; the Bucks’ defense was tenacious, causing Sacramento to go 1/6 from the field in that span. Milwaukee continued to roll, pushing their lead to as many as 15 points, going up 21-6 with 7:36 to go in the quarter. Sacramento didn’t even hit double figures until a minute later, after Russell Westbrook hit the first of his two free throws. Things got a bit heated between Bobby Portis and Domantas Sabonis after it appeared the pair got tied up. Portis was assessed a taunting technical foul for pointing in the face of Sabonis. That didn’t slow down Milwaukee at all, though, keeping their lead above double figures, thanks to the duo of Giannis and Ryan Rollins, who each got dunks in the lane. Towards the end of the quarter, the Kings did find their footing, getting back within single digits thanks to their bench and the iso heroics of DeMar DeRozan. By the time the first 12 minutes of action had come and gone, the Bucks went 17/24 from the field, 8/13 from three, and scored a first-quarter season high of 47 points, heading into the second up, 47-36.

Familiar Bucks villain Dennis Schroder was causing problems for Milwaukee to begin the second quarter. He scored the first five points for the visitors, cutting the Bucks’ lead to six in short order. While the Kings were running with four guards, the Bucks opted to go bigger, and it worked out somewhat in their favor. The bench was able to build the lead back up to 14 before a Drew Eubanks lob dunk forced head coach Doc Rivers to call a timeout with the Kings down just 10. Then the Bucks went through a 3:33 scoring drought. The lull allowed the Kings to completely erase the lead, down to just three points, with 4:34 to go in the half. The Bucks also ended a 4:46 field goal drought, thanks to a Rollins layup. That bucket helped get the Bucks back in gear, going back up by eight points with a tad over three minutes to go. That advantage didn’t last long, though, as the Kings outscored the Bucks 8-1 over the final 1:28 of game time, leaving the Bucks a minuscule one-point lead heading into the locker room. After scoring 47 in the first, the Bucks were limited to 24 and went 1/7 from the three-point line. The Kings shot 59.1% from the floor (13/22) in the quarter and 5/6 from the charity stripe.

The heat between these two teams got turned up once again. On a drive to the lane from Giannis on a fast break, Westbrook practically bear hugged the big fella, and both sides had words for each other. As for the actual basketball on the floor, the Kings came all the way back, trailing by as many as 15 points, to take the lead. After a couple of Trent free throws gave the Bucks a two-point lead, the Kings came back with seven straight points to take their largest lead of the game to that point at five. Things went from bad to worse for the Bucks, as the three-point shooting for the Kings finally started to get going. LaVine and Schroder made back-to-back bombs to give Sacramento their first double-digit lead of the night at 11. After giving the starters a breather, the Bucks’ bench gave them a boost and helped stop the bleeding. Portis hit a couple of threes, and Kyle Kuzma hit a spinning layup off the baseline to get the Bucks back within six, 102-108, heading into the fourth quarter.

Things started in a rather interesting way. Cole Anthony got tossed just 1:20 in after receiving his second technical of the game for arguing with the officials on foul calls. Out of everyone on the Bucks roster, it was Kuzma who helped keep the Bucks within striking distance. Kuzma scored the first 14 points for Milwaukee in the fourth quarter to make it a six-point game with 5:23 to go. It took until the 3:54 mark of the fourth for a player not named Kuzma to score, as Giannis hit two free throws, to get the Bucks back within six again. The momentum finally seemed to swing back the Bucks’ way after Giannis hit a three-pointer and then threw down a one-handed jam to get the Bucks back within three with 2:35 left in the game. It turned into a nail-biter from there, with neither side gaining much of an edge. After two DeRozan free throws made it a four-point game, Turner hit a clutch corner three to bring it back within one with 51 seconds left. The defense then forced a miss by DeRozan, and they had a chance to take the lead, but Giannis threw the ball off the underneath part of the basket and turned it over. Schroder made two free throws to make it a three-point game, as the Bucks came the other way after a timeout. After two missed shots from AJ Green to tie the game, he was fouled on the floor by LaVine to force two free throws. Green made the first and missed the second intentionally. Giannis grabbed the rebound and appeared to be fouled by Drew Eubanks, but there was no call on the floor, and there was no shot at the rim, sealing the Bucks’ fate.

Stat That Stood Out​

The Bucks struggled to hit their free throws, and it wasn’t just a Giannis problem this go around. While he did miss five of his 14 attempts, Turner missed both of his, Trent missed two, and even Cole Anthony went 1/2 from the line. The total ended up being 20/31 for the Bucks (64.5%), while the Kings were incredibly efficient from the free throw line, going 35/40 (87.5%).

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...iannis-ryan-rollins-demar-derozan-zach-lavine

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks vs. Kings Player Grades: Kuzma dazzles in the loss

The Sacramento Kings spoiled Bango’s birthday bash, as they upset the Milwaukee Bucks 135-133. This was the first win for the Kings over Milwaukee since March 12, 2024, and just their second win in their last 18 meetings. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

View Link

Player Grades​

Giannis Antetokoumpo​

32 minutes, 26 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 8/13 FG, 9/14 FT, 1/1 3PT, -1

It was a slow start for Giannis, who was limited to 10 points on 3/6 shooting in the first half. He scored 16 in the second half, but there were too many times when he was settling for mid-range jumpers instead of going to the lane. Credit to Sacramento’s defense, but it was odd to see him take six mid-range shots and go 2/6 on those.

Grade: B+

Myles Turner​

24 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 5 fouls, 3/4 3PT, +2

There was a period in this game where Myles and Bobby ran together for an extended period, and the two nearly played identical minutes. Turner had his moments, mainly that clutch three-point shot in the corner, but his defensive impact wasn’t the same as it had been to start the season.

Grade: C+

Ryan Rollins​

36 minutes, 16 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 8/13 FG, 0/3 3PT, -1

Coming off two career performances against the Knicks and Warriors, Rollins had a quieter game than what we’ve come to expect. There were stretches where he kept the Bucks afloat and was the only one who could get downhill outside of Giannis and Kuzma, but that 0/3 from beyond the arc does sting a little.

Grade: B

Gary Trent Jr.​

32 minutes, 17 points, 2 assists, 4/6 3PT, 3/5 FT, +0

Trent was as solid as ever, and he was slightly more efficient last night than he had been in previous contests. There were moments where the perimeter defense was nonexistent, but GT did enough on offense to counteract that.

Grade: B+

AJ Green​

30 minutes, 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 fouls, 6/12 FG, 4/10 3PT, -2

Man, Green had some brutal misses during this one. He did get a pretty good look on his first attempt to tie the game at the end of regulation, but it hit off the back iron. In a tough defensive assignment against DeRozan and LaVine, he did the best he could.

Grade: B

Cole Anthony​

13 minutes, 3 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 2 technical fouls, 1/4 FG, +2

This will be a game to forget for Cole. While he distributed the ball well enough and played some passable defense, receiving two technical fouls is unacceptable. Everyone the press talked to postgame, whether it was Giannis, Turner, or Rivers, said that this was a learning experience for him, but it’s hard to come back from.

Grade: D+

Bobby Portis​

23 minutes, 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 6/9 FG, 2/3 3PT, -5

Stacking another good Bobby performance offensively, which is good to see for his and the Bucks’ sake. Yet, he still had his defensive lapses, and in a game where he often played alongside four guards, it wasn’t the best matchup for him at all.

Grade: B-

Kyle Kuzma​

21 minutes, 22 points, 9/13 FG, 4/4 FT, +2

What a quarter that was for Kuzma in the fourth. He scored the first 16 of the Bucks’ 31 points and kept the home team in it with the rest of the team struggling to get going. I’m never going to begrudge 22 points on high efficiency off the bench, especially when those points come in key moments.

Grade: A

Taurean Prince​

13 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1/2 3PT, -5

It was a rough day at the office for the Bucks’ perimeter defense, and Prince is included in that. He didn’t get a ton of looks today, and he only hit one of them, which was a buzzer-beater at the end of the first quarter. Need a little bit more out of him on both ends of the floor.

Grade: C-

Amir Coffey​

14 minutes, 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2/3 FG, -2

During his postgame presser, Doc Rivers praised Coffey as the team’s best DeRozan defender, and the eye test backs that up. This was definitely one of his better games of the year, which could lead to more playing time down the road.

Grade: B

Doc Rivers​

It’s hard to dissect Doc’s performance today. He did go 1/2 on challenges today, and I thought the decision to leave Kuzma in for as long as he did was a wise choice. Yet, it’s hard when you give up 135 points to a team that was coming in at 1-4. That should be a win, point-blank.

Grade: C+

Limited Minutes: Jericho Sims

DNP-CD: Andre Jackson Jr., Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris

Inactive: Kevin Porter Jr., Mark Sears, Pete Nance, Alex Antetokounmpo

Bonus Bucks Bits​

• Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel conducted the Pool Report interview with crew chief Mitchell Ervin to talk about several of the controversial calls that were or weren’t made tonight. Here is a full transcript of the report:

• Doc Rivers, when asked about the officiating, said that it wasn’t the reason they lost. Here are the rest of his remarks:

“The refs had nothing to do with why we lost this game. I’m sure there’s fouls from the other side they can point to. It’s a human game, it’s a hard game to officate, but we allowed them to have that impact. I don’t know how many years I’ve coached, but I’m going to go on a limb and say, I don’t think I’ve ever lost a game where my team shot almost 60% and shot 47% from the three. You gotta try hard to lose that game and I thought we did.”

• Before today’s game, Doc made a statement on the impending suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP) due to the ongoing government shutdown, saying that it’s unfair to punish the children who will be going hungry. I transcribed the rest of what he said here:

Doc Rivers’ full comments on SNAP benefits being delayed at the end of his pre-game press conference today:

— Jackson Gross (@jgrossreporter.bsky.social) 2025-11-01T20:27:14.642Z

• Giannis shot 61.5% from the field, marking his fifth straight game with 20+ points on at least 60% shooting. According to Bucks PR, it’s the third-longest such streak of his career and the longest streak in the NBA this season.
• Sporting a black eye, Giannis gave quite a story on how he thinks it happened at a local grocery store:

“I was at Pick and Save, and while I was checking out my groceries, there was this guy who was about to snatch a purse from a lady. So, I was like, ‘Hey, man! What are you doing? Stop!’ So, I went and grabbed him, and he kind of turned and elbowed me in the eye, but then I grabbed him and put him on the floor. I took the purse and gave it to the lady, and then the lady was safe. I paid for her groceries too, because she was in shock. You know, the police came and took the guy in custody, so after that I went back home, did some treatment, and took a nap.”

• With the Indiana Pacers next on the schedule, Turner was asked about his return to Indy:

“At this point, anything I say will be used against me in a court of law. So at this point, I’m just looking forward to coming back to a place that I’ve been for 10 years and hoping for a raucous environment, as it’s been in the past few years that Indiana and the Bucks have played each other.”

Up Next​

It’ll be an emotional day for the Bucks next game on Monday. They’ll be back in Indianapolis for Myles Turner’s first game against the Indiana Pacers since he left them for the Bucks in free agency. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Central and will be available to watch on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-anal...-grades-stats-giannis-kyle-kuzma-ryan-rollins

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks Reacts Survey Results: Fan optimism soars on record, Rollins

Last week, I was a little (pleasantly) surprised to see how many Bucks fans were forecasting a high playoff seed for this squad after only one game: 71% of our respondents felt they’d secure home court advantage in their first-round series. That optimism appears to be founded, if Milwaukee’s 4-1 start is any indication, including wins over New York and Golden State (sans Giannis). In keeping with that, we decided to up the ask a little this week, with many of these answers coming in before the Warriors victory last night: can the Bucks win 50 games this season?

An even more decisive majority! In our preseason roundtable, none of us at Brew Hoop felt they’d eclipse 50, which they haven’t done since 2023. The consensus was 45–48 wins—still higher than how most national sources and Vegas felt—and maybe we were a little too bearish. But it’s only been five games, and as we saw last year, these early results don’t have too much bearing on end-of-season finish. Milwaukee was 1-4 through five games in 2024–25, including a couple of really disheartening defeats, and they managed to right the ship to 48 wins. The Suns were 4-1 on Halloween 2024, on their way to 9-1, and finished the year 36046. With all that in mind, I still see no reason why 4-1, with a couple of really encouraging dubs, won’t result in 48 wins or better.

Next up, with the same caveat that a lot of these votes came in before last night, we are again asking about the point guard corps. In the absence of Kevin Porter Jr., the T-Shirt Twins of Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony have looked simply outstanding. On the heels of back-to-back career-best outings, more than a few folks are wondering if Rollins should keep his starting gig. But for now, what about in the closing lineup?

It might be recency bias, but Rollins’ combination of great (maybe we can even say excellent) on-ball defense, spot-up shooting, and suddenly improved distribution is just what you want from the one in clutch moments. We saw KPJ do it in a similarly small sample size last year too, though, hence the pretty close split between each T-Shirt Twin. At this point, I personally want to see how Porter does upon his return—which I imagine will come in the next few games—before I make any sort of call here. But it’s a good problem to have!

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-poll...rvey-ryan-rollins-nba-playoffs-record-50-wins

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Bucks 117, Pacers 115

At times chippy, the Bucks survived with a 117-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Myles Turner’s return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where he played for 10 seasons. Giannis Antetokounmpo hit a buzzer-beating fadeaway, his first since January 2017, finishing with 33 points and 13 boards. Pascal Siakam was the high man for the Pacers with 32.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

Milwaukee coughed up the ball four times in the first two minutes—a recurring issue with this quad on the young season—but Indiana wasn’t necessarily making them pay. Back-to-back triples from Turner and AJ Green ignited a 13-2 Bucks run, making it 19-9 at the first timeout. Although they went cold during the ensuing minutes, the Bucks never let it get closer than six. Despite seven first-quarter turnovers—which the Pacers only scored two off of—and five misses at the line, the Bucks led 31-22 after one. Turner had four blocks in the frame.

While Giannis exited with 4:28 left in the first, he didn’t re-enter until the 8:21 mark. Meanwhile, a too-big frontcourt of Jericho Sims, Bobby Portis, and Kyle Kuzma let Indy slice the Milwaukee advantage to three. Though Turner soon followed, the Bucks’ struggles from the field continued: they started the game 6/8 but went four for their next 19. The Pacers took their first lead at the midpoint of the quarter thanks to a 17-5 run, extending that to 22-9 and going up five. A couple buckets down low from Giannis—one on the break—soon put Milwaukee back in front with 2:45 remaining. Taurean Prince ended a streak of 12 missed threes moments later, part of a 9-0 run. While a fastbreak and-one swung it back to the Pacers, a Cole Anthony triple with 6.2 seconds on the game clock sent the Bucks into the locker room ahead 56-53. Giannis led all scorers with 19.

Both teams traded baskets after Indiana quickly tied, featuring two thunderous slams from Ryan Rollins and Giannis. Rollins and AJ Green sank consecutive looks from deep to stake Milwaukee back to a nine-point edge midway through the period. That was part of an 18-8 run, but Indy wasn’t going away easily. Milwaukee allowed an 11-2 run to a lineup of Taelon Peter, Ben Shepherd, Aaron Nesmith, Tony Bradley, and Jay Huff, nearly tying the game in the third’s waning minutes. Portis and Prince longballs stopped the bleeding in the final minute, making it 84-77 Bucks through three.

Anthony opened the fourth with a longball of his own, and Kyle Kuzma even got in on the three party as the Bucks jumped back up by 10. The second unit was much more effective starting the fourth as compared to the second, burying their first six attempts from downtown. Remember those 12 consecutive missed threes in the first half? Well, Milwaukee made eight in a row to gain their largest lead at 12. The Bucks went to zone once Giannis checked in, but the starters allowed the Pacers to cut it to five with 4:22 left. That became two thanks to a 13-3 Indiana run, and Doc Rivers called his second timeout in just a minute of gameplay. Siakam tied it at the 2:50 mark, then Gary Trent Jr. and Nesmith treys made it two again with 90 seconds to go. Siakam and AJ Green free throws—after a very ill-advised Giannis three—put the Bucks up two, but a Nesmith layup tied it at 115 with the shot clock off. But Bucks had the ball with 14.5 left, and the call was a Giannis iso. He worked the clock to under five seconds, drove on Nesmith to the FT line, then pivoted onto his back foot for a fadeaway, 16-foot game-winner as the horn sounded.

Stat That Stood Out​

It’s hard to ignore the massive free-throw disparity tonight, but it wasn’t just about volume. Yes, Indiana got to the line a whopping 38 times, hitting 29 of them, but the Bucks were a terrible 13/22 (59.1%) on theirs. It wasn’t just Giannis (4/9, including an 0/2 trip late) either, as Turner, Green, and Sims also missed one of their two attempts.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...nner-buzzer-beater-pascal-siakam-myles-turner

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks vs. Pacers Player Grades: Giannis, Myles Turner eke by in Indy

Giannis’ 16-foot fadeaway at the buzzer has the Bucks at 5-2 on the young season with a 117-115 win over the Pacers. It certainly wasn’t a sterling effort with some glaring free-throw shooting, turnover, and defense rebounding issues, but the Bucks are the sixth team to five wins. This is only Milwaukee’s second win in Indiana since the 2022–23 season. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast Bucks In Six Minutes below.

View Link

Player Grades​

Giannis Antetokounmpo​

32 minutes, 33 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 14/21 FG, 1/2 3P, 4/9 FT, +8

Far be it from me to be too critical of the NBA’s leading scorer, who had his fifth 30-point outing of the season. And the guy who hit his first buzzer beater since the Obama administration. But his pull-up three with 31.5 left was not the shot Milwaukee needed, and missing both free throws up three with 3:31 left was scary. We’ll let those and the foul-line shooting slide.

Grade: A

Myles Turner​

32 minutes, 9 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3/7 FG, 2/6 3P, +7

Booed every time he touched the ball, Turner started the game off nicely and had three rejections in the first alone. His offense was pretty absent after halftime (1/4), but he generally played well on defense; the problem was that the Pacers knew how to draw him away from the rim, so the great rim protection he provided nearly the entire game wasn’t as present late in the fourth.

Grade: B

AJ Green​

29 minutes, 13 points, 3 assists, 4/8 FG, 4/8 3P, +3

First-half foul trouble meant only seven minutes until the third, but he made his presence felt quickly. The two he hit within 30 seconds in the fourth were huge, and it looked like the Bucks might coast from there. I think he needs to be out there when Giannis isn’t.

Grade: B+

Ryan Rollins​

28 minutes, 10 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 turnovers, 4/8 FG, 2/4 3P, -4

All over the court defensively on some possessions, and despite the 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, quickly starting to look the part of a legit NBA point guard. In the second, Rollins threw a Middleton-esque outlet pass to Giannis for a fast-break dunk, then threw down a wild dunk as he drove past Pascal Siakam on a break of his own. His triples in the third were part of that big run to put them up 12.

Grade: A-

Gary Trent Jr.​

34 minutes, 11 points, 3/12 FG, 3/10 3P, +8

A pretty rough night shooting the ball, but his last attempt and make was a big one to make it a five-point Bucks lead with 1:58 left. I would have liked to see him look for his own shot more—in the first, he drove inside and drew a foul.

Grade: C+

Cole Anthony​

23 minutes, 11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 4/8 FG, 3/4 3P, +4

That early fourth-quarter run had Anthony’s fingerprints all over it with two triples, a steal leading into a transition three, and two outstanding passes to Kyle Kuzma and Green in the corner. His brief stint later in the quarter was less successful, but he again looked great running the second unit.

Grade: B+

Taurean Prince​

21 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2/6 FG, 2/4 3P, +6

The only other reserve with a positive plus/minus. There was a sequence in the third where he attempted an ugly runner over Jay Huff, then got yakked by Shepherd on defense. Not good! But he redeemed himself with a three immediately after.

Grade: C+

Bobby Portis​

16 minutes, 8 points, 2 rebounds, 3/7 FG, 2/5 3P, -5

His first half shift was pretty abysmal (0/3 from the floor), so it was nice to see him get his act together with eight points in nine second-half minutes. On a night where the Bucks again struggled on the defensive glass, it stood out even more that he prefers to tip the ball rather than secure rebounds with two hands.

Grade: C

Kyle Kuzma​

16 minutes, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5/10 FG, 1/3 3P, -6

Back-to-back really good outings from Kuzma off the bench, at least from a scoring perspective. He didn’t really stand out on defense, but he was making the right plays when the ball found him, and was pleasantly 3/5 in the paint.

Grade: B+

Doc Rivers​

I thought this would be the night that he’d finally start the second quarter with one of Giannis—who checked out at the 4:28 mark of the first—or Turner. Alas. The lineups he ran during that stretch generally looked bad, but he corrected this by using Green and Anthony more in the fourth instead of using three bigs.

Grade: B

Limited Minutes: Amir Coffey, Jericho Sims

DNP-CD: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr., Mark Sears

Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Pete Nance

Bonus Bucks Bits​

• When announced in the starting lineup, Turner predictably drew boos. He drew an even louder chorus of them when he first touched the ball on offense about a minute in. Turner was fouled immediately and split the free throws amidst the boos. He made his first field goal—a three—a couple minutes later, and his celebration set the fans off again.
• However, his tribute video aired pregame and drew a mixed reaction with some cheers.
• A fast break steal from Giannis just over three minutes in, thanks to a Rollins deflection, elicited a pretty hard foul by Aaron Nesmith, wrapping Giannis up in the air and sending him to the ground on his back. Though Giannis was ok, Jackson was assessed a flagrant-one. Giannis missed both free throws and then threw away the inbounds pass. Not great!
• Late in the first, Doc trotted out a super-sized lineup of Sims, Portis, Kuzma, Prince, and Anthony. They remained on the floor to start the second and defended well enough to be -1, but it’s not something I need to see again.
• During the second, Portis exited limping slightly. It seemed to be nothing substantial, and he played his usual complement of second-half minutes.
• Early-game turnovers continue to plague the Bucks, but after their seven in the first quarter, they cut it down to five in the second at least, and then three in each of the final two frames.
• Defensive rebounding is also looking like somewhat of an issue so far this season. Through three quarters, the Pacers had 12 offensive boards to the Bucks’ four, but that gap closed with a 5-2 edge on the offensive glass in the fourth. Their 69.8% DREB% was about average, and in line with their 69.3% season figure.
• The Pacers shot 17 (seventeen!) free throws in the second quarter. The Bucks shot freaking one. It was 15-8 Pacers in the second half too.
• Milwaukee entered the evening second-to-last in FT% at 70.7%, ahead of only Washington. The Wizards went 13/19 at the charity stripe tonight in a loss to the Knicks, so the Bucks are now the league’s worst foul-shooting team.
• Some other big disparities in the Bucks’ three-point shooting by quarter: after shooting 7/22 in the first half (31.8%), they scorched the nets to the tune of 6/12 in the third and 7/13 in the fourth to finish at 20/47, their best night by volume so far this year.
• This hasn’t happened in at least two years: the Bucks outscored the Pacers in transition, 23-11.
• Doc had some postgame words for the refs regarding missed calls and calls not going both ways in the fourth, also highlighting how he thought he flagrant-1 on Giannis should have been upgraded more. As he has before, he lamented how Giannis is officiated, but acknowledged the difficulty in doing so, saying “it’s like guarding a fast Shaq.“
• When asked about Giannis’ game-winner and the playcall, Doc expressed his satisfaction that the big fella touched paint, which has been a point of emphasis this year: “if he gets his foot in the paint, he makes that shot. When he takes it outside the paint, it’s a tougher shot for him. So, very happy that he took it.”

Up Next​

Monday was the first night of a back-to-back for the Bucks—their first of the season. Today they’re in Toronto for the second time in 11 days, which will be their last trip to face the Raptors at Scotiabank Arena in the regular season. Tip is at 6:30 p.m. CST and viewable on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-anal...unmpo-game-winning-buzzer-beater-myles-turner

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Raptors 128, Bucks 100

The Toronto Raptors pummeled the tired Milwaukee Bucks 128-100 tonight. Toronto’s blowout win was fueled by their hot shooting from three—they went 17/38 from outside. RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes paced the Raps with 23 points each. It was a night to forget for almost every Buck, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had a relatively pedestrian 22 points and three assists.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

Both teams came out with guns blazing, combining for six threes on the first seven total possessions. Gary Trent Jr., eager to show out against his former squad, hit two of them. Scottie Barnes, who’s been on fire this season, also made a pair. RJ Barrett swished his second trey at the 8:00 mark to make the score 20-13, Raptors, just four minutes into the game. A high-octane shootout was underway. Milwaukee started to find success pressuring the paint against Toronto’s undersized frontcourt of Collin Murray-Boyles and Bucks legend Sandro Mamukelashvili, opening the gate for a 9-0 run that ended at the 4:30 tick. The Raptors didn’t stop their three-point barrage, though, and when the dust settled on the first quarter, they had a 39-29 advantage. Toronto went 9/15 from deep in the first frame alone.

The Bucks ran with an all-bench lineup of Cole Anthony, Amir Coffey, Taurean Prince, Kyle Kuzma, and Bobby Portis to start the second, which, as you might imagine, led to some awkward offensive trips. That crew did enough scrapping to stay within a 10-point margin, but when Giannis finally checked back in halfway through the quarter, it was long overdue. The Raptors were unfazed by the return of the Greek Freak, though, getting some stops on him inside and finding gaps in Milwaukee’s zone defense. Toronto held a 19-point lead with two minutes on the clock, fueled by a 12-2 run, and they held on to lead 73-54 at halftime. RJ Barrett and Giannis both had 15 points at intermission, with Quickley and Barnes adding 13 apiece for the home team.

Milwaukee showed some minor signs of life to kick off the second stanza, with AJ Green drilling two triples and Ryan Rollins aggressively attacking the rim, but it was false hope; the team couldn’t string together stops or scores. They looked lackadaisical, as clubs often do on the second night of a back-to-back. The Bucks were able to cut the deficit to 15 and force a timeout by the 7:00 mark, but after that stoppage, they went on to score just four points in the next four minutes. The sleepiness was practically tangible. Even their more engaged possessions, where defenders scrambled and made extra efforts, would still end in points for the Raptors. Ja’Kobe Walter banked in a tough and-one right before the buzzer, capping off a 20-8 Toronto run, and the Bucks were down 105-80 heading into the fourth.

The final quarter was a fitting nightcap for what was turning into a sleepy affair. The two teams combined for three points up until the 8:00 stamp, when Ryan Rollins knocked down a three. Doc Rivers started to empty his bench shortly after that, with Jericho Sims and Gary Harris both checking in for some extended action. Mark Sears got some burn as well, and the rookie scored his first NBA points, giving Bucks fans something to be excited about in an otherwise dreary contest. Garbage time played out as garbage time usually does, and the Raptors wrapped up with a no-doubt victory.

Stat That Stood Out​

Not to scapegoat one player, but Bobby Portis went 1/8 from the field for just two points. When he’s not providing a scoring spark, he’s really not doing much of anything. He’s a no-show on defense more often than not. The minutes with him at the five felt especially bad for the Bucks tonight.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...-giannis-antetokounmpo-scottie-barnes-blowout

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks vs. Raptors Player Grades: Bobby Portis’ and Ryan Rollins’ rough shooting spurs blowout loss

In an embarrassing display, the Milwaukee Bucks were blown out by the Toronto Raptors one night after beating the Indiana Pacers on the buzzer. RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes absolutely diced Milwaukee’s lacklustre defence en route to big scoring nights. The season series now stands at 1-1 between these two teams. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast Bucks In Six Minutes below.

View Link

Player Grades​

Giannis Antetokounmpo​

23 minutes, 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 9/14 FG, -8

Giannis was clearly (like everyone) gassed from the previous night, and that fatigue showed on defence, where he looked pretty disengaged. Still, he shot efficiently while getting zero help from the refs, who seemed content to sit back and watch while the big fella got mauled down there in the paint.

Grade: B

Myles Turner​

22 minutes, 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3/7 FG, 2/4 3P, -11

I didn’t see too much to be upset about with Myles’ game in this one; he mostly did his job on both ends. I think not playing with true point guards is impacting how effective he can be on offence.

Grade: B

AJ Green​

16 minutes, 9 points, 3/4 FG, 3/4 3P, -17

Doc needs to get AJ more looks from deep. As for the defence, Rivers went away from Green because of size concerns and foul trouble.

Grade: B

Ryan Rollins​

28 minutes, 11 points, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, 5/13 FG, 1/5 3P, -13

Rollins just didn’t have it from a shooting perspective in this one. I thought he made some plays for others and his defence was good, though.

Grade: B-

Gary Trent Jr.​

21 minutes, 6 points, 2/4 FG, 2/4 3P, -7

Gary was tasked with guarding Brandon Ingram and was simply too small to have any impact.

Grade: C+

Cole Anthony​

24 minutes, 12 points, 4 assists, 5/9 FG, -20

Cole had the team’s worst plus/minus, but that had more to do with him playing into garbage time and in the ghastly second unit. That said, it’s not as if I was impressed with what Anthony did on defence.

Grade: C+

Taurean Prince​

20 minutes, 0 points, 0/5 FG, 0/5 3P, -9

Prince has to eat off the team’s playmakers to get good looks, and those playmakers couldn’t really get him good looks. It was a bit of a cardio night for TP.

Grade: C

Bobby Portis​

20 minutes, 2 points, 9 rebounds, 1/8 FG, 0/5 3P, -16

Man, what can you even say at this point? If Bobby isn’t making shots, he is going to hurt you severely. It’s been a theme for his entire stint in Milwaukee, and last night was no different. Part of me feels bad about this commentary because there are other subpar defenders on this team, but the difference is that they don’t play centre.

Grade: D+

Kyle Kuzma​

26 minutes, 18 points, 4 turnovers, 7/14 FG, 2/5 3P, -16

I thought there were some good and bad moments from Kuzma’s game. On one hand, there were stretches where he reverted to trying to play outside himself and turned the ball over in doing so. On the other hand, he had stretches where he was one of the more positively impactful players on the Bucks, and his defence continues to be quite good.

Grade: B

Doc Rivers​

Doc was somewhat hamstrung by his team being tired as they headed into the game. That said, the Raps’ bigger wings were feasting all game, and I think Doc took too long to go to a bigger lineup with Kuzma at the three. I will, however, give Rivers credit for not continuing to play Giannis when the game was out of reach. He rode Giannis a lot last year in games that were already lost.

Grade: C+

Limited Minutes: Amir Coffey

Garbage time: Gary Harris, Jericho Sims, Andre Jackson Jr., Mark Sears

DNP-CD: Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Inactive: Pete Nance, Alex Antetokounmpo

Bonus Bucks Bits​

• Doc acknowledged that his team was gassed, and that he could see it from the very beginning. He thought Toronto’s physicality was one of the main reasons they dominated the game.
• Rivers continued to chat about how Giannis is refereed in the postgame—as he did two nights ago in Indy—commenting on the fact that Giannis rarely complains to officials, so when he does, it generally means they are doing something wrong.
• The Bucks went 11/38 from three (28.9%). For a team that is going to rely on three-point shooting all season, that cannot happen too often.
• Mark Sears scored his first NBA points and generally looked pretty good in garbage time. The thought of how they could get him into the game in real minutes did cross my mind. If Milwaukee is playing a team that plays three guards, maybe he could fit in. I trust his ability to contribute on offence.
• Not for nothing, but this is 2/2 games now where old friend Mamu has actively sought out Bobby Portis and attacked him repeatedly. Not great!

Up Next​

The Bucks now get a two-day rest before they play their opening NBA Cup game on Friday against the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Bulls. Catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-anal...-giannis-kyle-kuzma-scottie-barnes-rj-barrett

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Momentum Moments: Vol. 1

They aren’t easily definable, and you certainly can’t search for them in a box score. But every hoop-head knows them. Feels them as they happen. In their core. They are visceral—the catalysts for pandemonium; ushers of the choral groan.

Momentum moments. It’s not hyperbole to say that games are decided by these. Or is it? Here’s how the Bucks have fared following the crescendo so far.

@ Raptors​

Early season, on the road—the kind of game you want to take. Tone setting and all that. The game is tight, tension thick. It’s late in the fourth and the Bucks have failed to capitalise on gettable chances to extend a 108-107 lead. Then Immanuel Quickley ties it up on a free throw. Trepidation sets in—but not for Cole Anthony. He catches it in the right corner, drives baseline, then does his best Dr. J impersonation: a one-handed up-and-under, avoiding Scottie Barnes’ contest. So much English, you’d think he’s from the UK. The Bucks never look back; win in the mud.

Win probability after Quickley ties it up: 53.7%

Win probability following Anthony’s finish: 60.9%

@ Cavs​

The Bucks are down 56-65 to start the third. Gary Trent Jr. makes a nice steal and pushes the fast break. Giannis fills the lane with only Sam Merrill between them. The lob is on—or at least a drive and dish for an easy two. Either way, a gimme to cut the lead. Establish momentum. Instead, Trent pulls up for three and clunks it. The Cavs score twice, extending the lead to 14, and despite the Bucks tying it late in the fourth, they run out of gas and ultimately lose by five.

Win probability before Trent’s miss: 14.7%

Win probability following Trent’s miss: 12.9%

vs. Knicks​

It’s been neck-and-neck since the seven-minute mark of the third. A Giannis free throw and a Prince corner three off a sweet Anthony dime give the Bucks an 93-88 lead. The crowd is in this, and another defensive stop only amplifies it. Then, on a pick and pop, Anthony finds Bobby Portis. Without hesitation, Portis rises for a straightaway three that would push the lead to eight with just 30 seconds left in the period. It misses, and Jordan Clarkson goes on to hit a three-pointer of his own at the other end. The crowd quietens. Kuzma splits a pair of throws, and the Bucks end the quarter up 94-91. They go on to win by ten. No harm, no foul.

Win probability at Portis’ miss: 70.9%

Win probability after Clarkson’s three: 61.7%

vs. Warriors​

Giannis is in street clothes, and the Warriors come out to play—but so do the Bucks in a game where they’re never more than a couple possessions ahead or behind. It’s deep in the fourth—killing season—and Steph Curry does what he does: one at the hoop, a free throw, and a “did-you-even-see-him-get-that-off?” trey that cuts it to two. 106-104 Bucks. 4:03 on the clock. Future All-Star Ryan Rollins tells Draymond Green to hold his beer as he sinks a triple of his own over Al Horford, but there’s no time to celebrate—not when the Chef is cooking. Curry pushes it, uses the Jonathon Kuminga screen to shed Rollins, turns Trent inside out, and heads to the cup. But AJ Green knows a thing or two about positional defence, and he will have none of this nonsense. He stays vertical, takes it in the chest. For the name on the chest. And the scores are never again as close.

Win probability after Curry’s three: 67.3%

Win probability after Green’s stop: 85.3%

vs. Kings​

The matinee starts like a show: the Bucks fire on all cylinders from three, building a 21-6 lead, and control the game through most of the first half. But the Kings chip away like a sculptor on their magnum opus, and it’s this deliberation that lulls the Fiserv crowd—and the Bucks—to sleep. Suddenly, it’s a six-point game with less than a minute left in the half. Giannis misses a free throw, and then Dennis Schröder gets to work. It’s a slow possession without much action; Schroder is the only one to touch the rock. Pound, pound, pound, he goes. Watching, waiting to unleash his menace. He isolates on the left wing, then calls for a screen. First Zach LaVine, then Domantas Sabonis. The Bucks switch, and Portis is on an island. Schröder finds his rhythm, hints forward—the way one might when trying to kiss—putting Portis on his heels. Then he steps back and drops a three on his head. Keeps his arm extended for the drama. Throws a celly in for good measure. Inhales the moment. Rollins rushes a two-for-one on the other end, and LaVine takes the invitation to splash a three of his own. Trent splits a pair of free throws to end the half, giving the Bucks a one-point edge, but the momentum is all Sactown. And eventually, so is the win.

Win probability after Giannis’ split free throws: 80.5%

Win probability after LaVine’s three: 60.9%

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There you have it, five moments in a season sure to be full of them. With three of these unquestionably correlating to the final outcomes, the message is clear: capitalise on the moment or fall victim to its wrath. Share your thoughts on these moments in the comments and stay tuned for more—this segment will run biweekly.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-features-profiles/53352/milwaukee-bucks-momentum-moments-vol-1

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

March Madness to Milwaukee: A ranking of the Bucks’ college careers

The NBA has been back for a few weeks, but starting this week, basketball fans have a chance to see the league’s future in action as well. The college basketball season officially tipped off Monday. We’ve received a taste of potential NBA stars in televised exhibition games the last few weeks, but now the games count. What better way to ring in the new season than to take a look at what each member of the Bucks roster accomplished in their collegiate years? Below are the stats of each Buck in their best collegiate season, and my rankings of each player’s college career. We’ve reached the time of the year when both the NBA and college basketball are in season—basketball fans rejoice!

Mark Sears: Ohio and Alabama​

2023–24 season averages (with Alabama): 21.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.6 SPG

In terms of individual accolades, Sears had by far the best college career of any player on the Bucks roster. After two years at Ohio, he transferred to Alabama for his final three seasons. You could write a whole article about his awards and recognition, but the highlights include two-time All-American honors—First Team in 2024–25 and Second Team in 2023–24—a Bob Cousy Award finalist in 2023–24 and 2024–25, and a Naismith Player of the Year semifinalist in 2024–25. He also ranks 19th in Division I history with 2,841 career points. And if you’re more into team accomplishments, he has those too. In addition to a Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight appearance in his first and third seasons with Alabama, respectively, he helped lead the Crimson Tide to the program’s first Final Four in 2024.

Bobby Portis: Arkansas​

2014–15 season averages: 17.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Bobby played two seasons at Arkansas from 2013–15, earning notable individual honors in each season. In his freshman season, he made the SEC All-Freshman team and was second on the team in scoring. That same year, he earned Second-Team All-SEC honors—an impressive feat for a freshman. He exploded onto the national scene as a sophomore in 2014–15, leading Arkansas to the round of 32 and a final record of 27-9. In that season, Bobby was the SEC Player of the Year, First Team All-SEC, and a Second Team All-American

Andre Jackson Jr.: UConn​

2022–23 season averages: 6.7 PPG, 4.7 APG, 6.2 RPG, 1.1 SPG

AJax is the only player on the current Bucks roster that holds national-champion status, so it felt wrong to let him fall any lower on this list, even if the individual numbers are less gaudy. He spent three years at UConn, notably starting 31 of the 36 games in the 2022–23 championship season. In that season, he was tied for the team lead in assists at 4.7 per game and often took on the defensive assignment of other teams’ best offensive player. Again, the numbers aren’t anything spectacular, but the assists and steals show how valuable he was to a team that rolled everyone en route to a championship, and that holds more weight than any individual accolade.

Gary Harris: Michigan State​

2013–14 season averages: 16.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.8 SPG

On the banks of the Red Cedar, Harris had an extremely productive two seasons for Tom Izzo at Michigan State. In his freshman season, he made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and won Big Ten Rookie of the Year. The Spartans advanced to the Sweet 16, with Harris playing a key role. His sophomore campaign, however, was even better. He saw an increase in most statistical categories, earned First Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive honors, and led Michigan State to the Elite Eight, where it fell to the eventual national champion UConn.

Taurean Prince: Baylor​

2015–16 season averages: 15.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.3 SPG

To this day, it is a mystery how Yale outrebounded Baylor, but it is no mystery that Taurean Prince was a great college basketball player. Despite the upset loss that ended his career, Prince enjoyed some March Madness success as a key contributor to Baylor’s Sweet 16 run in 2014. Individually, he earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors and won the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year award in 2015, and he earned First Team All-Big 12 honors his senior season. While the lasting college memory of Prince is his interview after losing to Yale, he had a more than satisfactory collegiate career.

AJ Green: Northern Iowa​

2019–20 season averages: 19.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG

Dairy Bird never got his chance to steal the hearts of America in March Madness. In 2019–20, when Northern Iowa won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship, they fell early in the conference tournament before the NCAA Tournament was later cancelled due to COVID. Still, AJ Green put together a strong individual career. In that 2019–20 season, he won the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year award, an honor he would again receive in the 2021–22 season. He started every game he played in college, averaging 17.9 points per game over four years in one of the toughest mid-major conferences. It’s a shame he never got a shot in the big dance, but the numbers and accolades still attest to an outstanding collegiate career.

Amir Coffey: Minnesota​

2018–19 season averages: 16.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.2 APG

Coffey spent three seasons at Minnesota, contributing to the Golden Gophers’ success each season. As a freshman in 2016–17, he averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Minnesota earned an NCAA Tournament berth that season as well. In his sophomore year, his stats were relatively similar, with a slight boost in scoring. For his final collegiate season, he saw another increase in scoring and maintained his rebounding and assist numbers, helping him earn Third Team All-Big Ten honors. Most importantly, he won a game in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, something Minnesota hadn’t done since 2013. Coffey instantly produced at the college level and did so for three seasons, enjoying team success along the way.

Kyle Kuzma: Utah​

2016–17 season averages: 16.4 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.4 APG

Kuzma spent three seasons at Utah, experiencing both team and individual success. His freshman year, he played sparingly as the team made a run to the Sweet 16. In his sophomore season, he was a much more regular contributor, averaging better than 10 points per game on the season as the Utes advanced to the Round of 32. The Utes missed the tournament in his junior year, but he posted his best statistical season, allowing him to rise on draft boards en route to a first-round selection. With a balance of moderate team success and individual numbers, Kuzma can reflect on a productive college career.

Gary Trent Jr.: Duke​

2017–18 season averages: 14.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.2 SPG

Trent played one season for a loaded Duke team. Marvin Bagley III looked like the next big thing in the frontcourt, and the backcourt was equally as stacked with Grayson Allen and Trevon Duval, who was thought to be a future star at the time. Despite the loaded roster, Gary carved out a role for himself similar to the one he’s played in the NBA. He shot 40% from 3-point range and averaged more than a steal per game. Given Duke’s talent level, his stat line is especially impressive, and despite being in college just one year, Duke’s success helps Trent above other one-and-dones on the Bucks.

Myles Turner: Texas​

2014–15 season averages: 10.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.6 BPG

The Bucks’ major offseason addition played one collegiate season at Texas, where he enjoyed plenty of individual success. The team made the first round of the NCAA Tournament but lost. To no surprise, Turner was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award winner after rejecting shots all season long. He also appeared on the Big 12 All-Defensive team and earned Third Team All-Big 12 honors. It was a brief stint in college for Turner, but he was very impactful—especially defensively—earning him a spot in the middle of the pack as far as college careers go for Bucks players.

Cole Anthony: North Carolina​

2019–20 season averages: 18.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.3 SPG

Anthony entered his lone collegiate season with the weight of the world on his shoulders, being expected to lead a top-tier program in North Carolina to the promised land. The team did not fare well, posting a 14-19 final record. Anthony, however, still put together a nice season. As is the case with many freshmen, the efficiency struggles were abundant, but he also had more responsibility than most freshmen. Despite the team’s woes and his streaky shooting, Anthony made the All-ACC Rookie team and earned Third Team All-ACC honors. 2019–20 is a season North Carolina fans would like to forget, but given what was asked of Anthony, he had a decent season.

Ryan Rollins: Toledo​

2021–22 season averages: 18.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.7 SPG

Ryan Rollins was an exceptional point guard at the mid-major level, but it’s hard to justify putting him higher on the list due to the level of competition and lack of team success. Still, in just two seasons, Rollins put together a decorated career at Toledo. In his freshman season, he won the MAC Rookie of the Year Award, and in his sophomore year, he was First Team All-MAC. The numbers speak for themselves—he did a little bit of everything for the Rockets, helping them win the conference regular-season crown in the 2021–22 season. While it was never enough to propel an underdog run on the national stage, his high-level production earned him a shot in the NBA.

Pete Nance: Northwestern and North Carolina​

2021-22 season averages (with Northwestern): 14.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.1 BPG

Pete Nance is another guy on this list who never had a chance to shine in the NCAA Tournament. After the best statistical season of his career in 2021–22 at Northwestern, he transferred to North Carolina. The Tar Heels, fresh off a national championship appearance, wanted a stretch four to replace Brady Manek, who broke out during the tournament. Nance filled the role well, averaging double figures along with six rebounds and one block per game. Unfortunately, North Carolina struggled as a team and missed the tournament. While Nance didn’t get a chance to play in March Madness, he was a solid college player.

Jericho Sims: Texas​

2019–20 season averages: 9.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.2 BPG

From his college tape, it’s easy to see why Sims had upside as an NBA prospect. In his four years at Texas, the Longhorns made the NCAA Tournament twice, losing in the first round both trips. Individually, Sims was as you’d expect based on his NBA career: a big who could jump out of the gym and used that athleticism to block shots and catch lobs. His college highlights are worth the watch, but simply put, he was a serviceable big man, and that isn’t enough to jump anyone ahead of him in this ranking.

Kevin Porter Jr.: USC​

2018–19 season averages: 9.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.4 APG

KPJ rounds out the list, not because he had a bad collegiate tenure, but rather because USC wasn’t good in his lone season. He appeared in 21 games, making just four starts. He played his role well for the Trojans, coming off the bench as a spark plug who could score in bunches, and the numbers reflect that. He scored efficiently and did what was asked of him, but without eye-popping numbers or team success, it’s hard to justify him any higher on this list.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-feat...e-bucks-nba-roster-ranking-college-basketball

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks Reacts Survey: Who is Milwaukee’s starting point guard?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Editor’s note: Due to technical failures with SBNation and Crowdsignal, the Tuesday Tracker is still not back this week.

The Bucks are 5-2 and looking a lot better than many expected, especially since they lost their presumptive starting point guard not even 10 minutes into the season. In the interim, Kevin Porter Jr. injured his meniscus as he prepared to come back from a minor ankle sprain, and while the arthroscopic procedure usually keeps players out around four weeks, it’s worth noting that it’s players like Lonzo Ball, Joel Embiid, and Zion Williamson out much longer. Obviously KPJ is different than a couple of those guys, though.

Also in the interim, Ryan Rollins’ ascension to legitimate NBA point guard has made a huge difference on both ends, even flashing star potential against high-profile opponents last week. Right now he’s averaging 17.0 PPG and 5.7 APG on a cool .536/.412/833 shooting. Our first question for you this week: is this enough to make him the starting point guard once KPJ is healthy?

We also want to know how this largely positive start has affected your expectations for Milwaukee this year. 5-2 feels about right for this team, as they probably stole one from the Warriors down Giannis before dropping a game they definitely should have won against the Kings. The Cavs loss is somewhat excusable, down two ballhandlers; after all, even when not fully healthy, Cleveland is one of the league’s top few squads. We know that many of you already think they’ll notch 50 wins or secure a top-three seed, but where does that sit relative to what you thought before the season?

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-poll...ting-point-guard-ryan-rollins-kevin-porter-jr

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bobby Portis, your time has come

(Editor’s note: this post is adapted from benchmobblog.com)

Bobby Portis has been a fan favorite in Milwaukee for well over half a decade now. He, alongside Giannis, is the heart and soul of the Bucks. Bobby has helped this team accomplish so much, and he’s had so many awesome moments in a green-and-cream jersey.

That’s why it’s painful to say it’s time for him to go.

The big fella has fundamental flaws in his game that have become harder and harder to ignore. His performance against the Raptors Tuesday night added to the long list of evidence that his capacity to play winning basketball is seriously limited. Against Toronto, he scored two points on 1/8 shooting and finished with a -13 plus-minutes in 20 minutes of play. His minutes were capital-B bad. Tough shooting nights for Bobby are worse than they are for most players, because when he isn’t making shots, he’s hardly doing anything.

Defensively, Portis is a true, undeniable negative. Nobody has even been scared to attack him. He doesn’t affect shots at the rim, let alone block them, and while he can sometimes hedge effectively, his feet are too slow to give him any real merit on the perimeter. He has no defensive role because he’s not apt to fit into any of them. This is a major problem in a league that loves liability-hunting. When they’re running Bobby at the five, Milwaukee is essentially inviting opponents into the paint and letting them do whatever they want. That was the case against the Raptors and the Kings over the weekend as well. Rim protection is maybe the single most important thing for an NBA team to have besides shooting, and when the Bucks play Portis at center, they’re missing it completely. It’s easier to hide him at the four, but again, he can’t consistently guard in space, so that’s still an unideal situation.

Frankly, Bobby being so awful on D is reason enough for a playoff team to move on from him. It would be wonderful if we could leave it at that. Alas, we can’t.

Bobby’s main jobs on offense are to space the floor and be a microwave spark off the bench. It can’t be denied that he can score. They don’t call him Bobby Buckets for no reason. However, the way he goes about getting his buckets is often more harmful than helpful. He takes a high volume of turnaround contested middies that would be considered dumb shots by any sensible coach in the country. When he’s making them, you can’t argue with the results, but this season especially, he hasn’t been making enough of them to make up for the fact that when he’s missing them, he’s bleeding value.

When his shot isn’t falling, he continues to chuck anyway, and rarely looks to pass. That’s a total shame, and also just such a detriment to this specific version of the Bucks, which has so few creators and needs sharp ball movement to function. Bobby could be a legitimate positive post playmaker, given that he often attracts extra defensive attention, but in reality, he’s a black hole! He doesn’t play team-first hoops. Things would be more justifiable if he took more threes, considering he’s a real threat from beyond the arc, but he instead chooses to settle again and again for boneheaded faders. Ugh.

The Bucks are looking to maximize their chances of winning with Giannis on the team. The harsh truth is that relying heavily on Bobby Portis as their backup center isn’t advancing that goal. He’s not a genuinely bad NBA player, he’s just not what this team needs at all. That’s why Milwaukee should be looking to move off him in a trade, hopefully in exchange for a more traditional five-man that can defend the basket or a big wing with some grit and athleticism.

Every decision and move, big or small, matters for the Bucks right now, and the choice to give Portis a featured role is not the right one. It’s time for him to go, before the Milwaukee hero becomes a villain in the eyes of the fans he’s entertained for six seasons.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-analysis/53680/bobby-portis-milwaukee-bucks-trade-defense

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Bucks 126, Bulls 110

The Milwaukee Bucks began their NBA Cup title defense with a 126-110 win over their I-94 rival, the Chicago Bulls. Giannis put on a clinic, going for 41 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists, while Myles Turner went for 23 points, seven rebounds, and four steals. Matas Buzelis was the only Bull to score 20+, with 20 points and eight rebounds on 8/12 from the field. Josh Giddey had 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

It was not the start the Bucks were looking for out of the gate against Chicago. Milwaukee missed their first five shots, and Matas Buzelis went 3/3 on layups to take an 8-1 lead with 8:55 on the clock. The lone point came from a Giannis free throw. AJ Green scored on the next possession for their first field goal of the game. Despite that hot start for the Bulls, it wasn’t an offensive showcase for either side in the first quarter. The two sides combined for just 48 points and shot 19/44 (43.1%) from the floor. Chicago did lead by as many as eight points, but the Bucks battled back, going on a 7-2 run in the final 2:37 of the quarter. That run cut the Bulls’ lead down to just two points heading into the second quarter, 25-23.

After a sluggish offensive showing, both sides started to find their rhythm in a back-and-forth affair. Bobby Portis got things rolling with a three-pointer, giving the Bucks their first lead of the night. Doc Rivers had been relying on all-bench lineups in an effort to keep Giannis and Myles Turner on the floor together for as much as possible. Yet, tonight, they staggered the two throughout the quarter to great effect. Turner scored five more points, but the Bucks weren’t able to create a sizeable gap over Chicago. The biggest lead for either side was just three points throughout most of the quarter until Giannis checked back in with 5:10 left in the frame. Milwaukee went on a 7-2 run to go up by six with 3:46 to go. The Bucks’ offense then stalled, scoring just four points from then on, going 2/6 from the field. That cold stretch allowed the Bulls to get back into it, outscoring the Bucks 9-4 and cutting the Bucks’ lead down to one point, 53-52, heading into the locker room.

Chicago kept up the momentum they built to end the half into the third quarter. The Bulls raced out to a 7-2 run to take a four-point lead in the early stages. The Bucks were able to regain their footing, thanks to a blistering 8-0 run to take a four-point lead of their own, before Kevin Huerter threw down a dunk to force Rivers to call a timeout. Milwaukee continued to force the issue, building up the lead to 18-2, to take a 12-point advantage halfway through the quarter. Like in any good rivalry game, the team that’s down never really goes away, and that’s what the Bulls did. They went on a 7-0 run to cut the Bucks’ lead back down to just five points in just a minute and 13 seconds of game time. Milwaukee was able to keep the Bulls at bay, thanks to Kyle Kuzma and Portis, building their lead back up to eight points with 1:49 remaining in the third quarter. Buzelis was able to end the quarter on a good note for Chicago, nailing a step-back three, cutting the Bucks’ lead down to 85-80 heading into the final stanza.

Milwaukee was looking to put away Chicago early, building their lead up to nine points in the early moments of the fourth. The Bulls continued to hang around, cutting Milwaukee’s lead to just three after Isaac Okoro hit a couple of layups, Ayo Dosunmu hit a reverse, and Patrick Williams nailed a three with 8:33 to go. Then, midway through the quarter, the Bucks were finally able to break the game open. After Chicago cut the lead to five with 5:29 to go, the Bucks went on an 11-2 run, thanks to big shots from Giannis, Turner, and Rollins. That spurt got them a 14-point lead with 3:15 on the clock. The Bulls really weren’t able to generate much offense, scoring just 12 points in the final 8:33 of the game. The Bucks were able to coast from there and stay unbeaten in NBA Cup group play.

Stat That Stood Out​

The Bucks really hunkered down on the defensive glass after the first quarter, where they gave up four offensive rebounds. After the first, the Bucks only gave up four O-boards for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, Milwaukee inhaled 10 offensive rebounds themselves. Overall, they outrebounded Chicago 59-51 on the night.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...iannis-myles-turner-josh-giddey-matas-buzelis

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Previewing the 2025–26 Wisconsin Herd Roster

NBA G League hoops are tipping off this weekend! The Wisconsin Herd play their first game tonight against the Windy City Bulls. Ahead of opening night, the Herd released their final 13-man roster, headlined by Milwaukee’s two-way guys. Here’s the full team:

• #0 Kaden Anderson (forward, Point Loma Nazerene, tryout player)
• #1 Stephen Thompson Jr. (guard, Oregon State, returner)
• #2 Johnny Davis (guard, Wisconsin, acquired via trade)
• #3 Kira Lewis Jr. (guard, Alabama, acquired via trade)
• #5 Philip Alston (forward, Loyola-Chicago, returner)
• #12 Craig Randall II (guard, Tennessee-Martin, acquired via trade)
• #13 John Butler Jr. (big, Florida State, returner)
• #19 Mark Sears (guard, Alabama, two-way)
• #23 Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. (center, Missouri, acquired via trade)
• #29 Alex Antetokounmpo (forward, Greece, two-way)
• #30 Cormac Ryan (wing, North Carolina, acquired via trade)
• #33 Onno Steger II (forward, Western Carolina, 2025 G League draft selection)
• #35 Pete Nance (big, Northwestern, two-way)

For Bucks fans, the most important names to monitor here are the two-way crew of Pete Nance, Mark Sears, and Alex Antetokounmpo. Out of that trio, Nance has played the most NBA minutes and is closest to being a contributor at the next level. The 25-year-old should be expected to play above the competition in the G, as his number could be called by the Bucks at any time this regular season, especially if Giannis misses a game or Bobby Portis keeps slipping out of favor. Sears should also be one of the best players on this Herd team. The G League is a lot kinder to small guards than the NBA, and Sears showed us time and time again at Alabama how good he can be against lower-tier opponents.

Alex Antetokounmpo is the single most intriguing name on this squad, mainly because this is his prime chance to prove he’s not an utter waste of a roster spot (strictly in on-court terms, because we all know the main reason he was signed). With Wisconsin back in 2023–24, he averaged 5.9 PPG on just 33.8% shooting in 20 minutes a night, so odds are he won’t become any sort of stud. However, he’s only 24, he’s toolsy, and he’s an Antetokounmpo. Counting out a guy with that last name is never wise.

Other potential NBA players on this roster include Johnny Davis, John Butler Jr., and Cormac Ryan. Davis, whose three-year career with the Wizards was infamously disappointing, is a second-draft candidate who could pay dividends. Situation is the lifeblood of player development, and Washington was not setting Davis up for success at all. A fresh opportunity with another team could awaken some of the dormant lottery talent in the former Wisconsin guard.

Butler Jr. is a raw but alluring prospect. He’s a 22-year-old seven-footer who can block shots and space the floor without being totally stiff. His spindly 190-pound frame is a glaring red flag, though. Bucks fans will recognize Cormac Ryan from this year’s Summer League and preseason games. The North Carolina product’s skillset is well-defined at this point, which would play to his advantage if he made an NBA team. Coaches could put him on the court and trust him to knock down threes and make sharp decisions right away. All three of Davis, Butler, and Ryan are two-way eligible and will be nipping at the heels of Nance, Sears, and Antetokounmpo all season long.

Most of this year’s Herd will never sniff an NBA floor, but some of them are/can be successful minor league players. Craig Randall is one of the most electric scorers in the league. He’s posted career averages of 21.2 PPG and 4.6 APG in three years with the Long Island Nets, Iowa Wolves, and Rip City Remix. Stephen Thompson Jr. averaged an efficient 14.1 PPG with Wisconsin last season. Kira Lewis Jr., who was the 13th overall pick in 2020, will at least theoretically be one of the most talented players in the gym. Unlike Johnny Davis, though, he’s no longer two-way eligible, putting him in a tough position as he tries to earn another NBA look.

One thing stands out for most of the notable players on Wisconsin’s roster: they’re not clear fits for Milwaukee’s identity. Ryan’s role with the Bucks would be pretty clear—he could just follow the path AJ Green blazed. Nance has similar strengths to Myles Turner and Bobby Portis. Overall, though, the Herd have assembled a relatively random collection of talent. The most successful developmental programs across the NBA do a good job of identifying prospects who could pop in their systems and adding them to their farms. Oklahoma City and Golden State, for example, have G League rosters littered with guys whose playstyles align with their on-court philosophies. The Bucks need off-ball players with solid positional size and athleticism who can hit threes and defend. Lots of these Herd members don’t check those boxes at all.

Either way, it should be fun to monitor the Herd this season, especially if you’re a basketball sicko.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-rost...ce-mark-sears-alex-antetokounmpo-nba-g-league

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks vs. Bulls Player Grades: Giannis and Myles Turner combine for 64 in Cup win

The Milwaukee Bucks began NBA Cup group play on the right foot with a 126-110 win over the red-hot Chicago Bulls. The Bucks split the season series with Chicago a year ago, with the Bulls taking the last game 116-111 back on December 28, 2024. The last time Milwaukee beat Chicago was on December 23 of the same year, 112-91. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

View Link

Player Grades​

Giannis Antetokoumpo​

37 minutes, 41 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 16/32 FG, 1/3 3PT, 8/11 FT, +16

Coming into the fourth quarter, Giannis was shooting a rough 9/22 and 22 points. He exploded for 19 points on 7/10 shooting, helping the Bucks overpower the Bulls. A truly 1-of-1 player, Giannis is.

Grade: A

Myles Turner​

31 minutes, 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 8/13 FG, 5/8 3PT. +19

This was by far Myles Turner’s most effective offensive performance as a Buck, scoring a season high 23 points. Turner told the media that he spoke with Doc about changing how they use him, and it worked with flying colors. We’ll have to wait and see if this will be a consistent occurrence with Turner moving forward.

Grade: A

Ryan Rollins​

31 minutes, 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 7/13 FG, 4/6 3PT, +11

After a rough couple of performances against the Pacers and Raptors, Rollins showed up in a big way against the Bulls. The shot was finally falling, and he played solid defense on Josh Giddey for most of the night. It was a good night for No. 13 in black.

Grade: A-

Gary Trent Jr.​

23 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2/9 FG, 1/5 3PT, -1

This kind of game happens from time to time for Trent. After scoring in double figures in a couple of games, he has an off night, scoring only five points and posting poor shooting numbers. They’ll need him to rebound for Sunday against the Rockets.

Grade: C-

AJ Green​

35 minutes, 6 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2/8 3PT, +11

AJ Green was another three-point gunner who had a rough day shooting the ball, but unlike Trent, he found ways to contribute outside of that. Green had five assists and four rebounds, and was a plus defender, despite three early fouls.

Grade: B-

Bobby Portis​

20 minutes, 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3/5 FG, -1

This was a much better Bobby game, especially on the defensive end. He showed reasonable effort and contested some shots well. You would like more offense from him, and the -1 isn’t good, but it’s a step in the right direction for BP.

Grade: C+

Cole Anthony​

22 minutes, 11 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 5/14 FG, 1/5 3PT, +3

This grade could’ve been higher if not for the rough shot selection from Anthony last night. There were spots where he was settling for threes, but whenever he drove the lane, it was money.

Grade: B-

Kyle Kuzma​

28 minutes, 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4/6 FG, +14

The Kyle Kuzma renaissance needs to be studied. After being unplayable a year ago with Milwaukee, he’s turned himself into what Dave Joeger calls a Swiss Army knife. Kuzma played in crunch time and helped spark the Bucks’ mid-quarter surge to put the game away in the fourth.

Grade: A-

Doc Rivers​

The thing Bucks fans had been asking Doc to do finally came to fruition: he staggered Giannis and Turner. There were stretches where Turner would play alongside Bobby Portis and Jericho Sims, and others where Giannis was in place of Turner. With the lack of stops the bench was giving him, and not having Taurean Prince either, it was a necessary move that worked out well for Rivers and the Bucks.

Grade: A

Limited Minutes: Amir Coffey, Jericho Sims

DNP-CD: Andre Jackson Jr., Gary Harris, Thansis Antetokoumpo, Mark Sears, Pete Nance

Inactive: Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince, Alex Antetokounmpo

Bonus Bucks Bits​

• Giannis Antetokounmpo passed Kareem-Abdul Jabbar (55) for the most 40+ point games in franchise history, collecting his 56th career game reaching that point threshold.
• The Bucks improved to 7-0 in NBA Cup group play, and Darvin Ham remains undefeated in NBA Cup history. He joked in the locker room about making a personal three-peat for himself for NBA Cup titles, after winning with the Lakers in 2023 and the Bucks in 2024.
• Ryan Rollins talked about the impact that Rajon Rondo has had on him, with him being around a lot more than he was last season.

“How he views and reads the game. It’s different than how everybody else reads the game. Just learning from him and picking up on what he’s seeing and how he sees it. I think that’s the biggest part, so you just kind of learn and pick up on little details, which makes the biggest difference.”

The arrow keeps pointing up on Ryan Rollins after tonight. The former Toledo Rocket scored 20 points, marking his third time reaching that mark this season. During a career-best eight-game streak scoring in double figures, he’s averaging 17.6 points per game.

• Turner said that prior today’s game, he talked with the coaching staff to adjust how he was being used:

“I love shooting threes, I love spacing the floor, but it can’t be the only thing I do out there. I feel like I’m able to get on the rim and mix up my midrange as well. Just finding more ways to contribute.”

• Gary Trent Jr. with his three rebounds, reached over 1,000 career rebounds during the second quarter of tonight’s game.

Up Next​

The Bucks will host the new-look Houston Rockets, featuring Kevin Durant, on Sunday for their second weekend matinee game of the season. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Central time, and you can watch on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-anal...ulls-player-grades-stats-giannis-myles-turner

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls: The defense of the Cup begins

The Milwaukee Bucks begin their title defense of the NBA Cup tonight against the Chicago Bulls. This will be the first of four games between the I-94 rivals. The Bucks will look to bounce back after looking flat in a loss to the Toronto Raptors, while the Bulls will look to keep up the strong start after a win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

Where We’re At​

The Bucks are an interesting team. One moment, every shot goes in and the offense looks unstoppable, the next, turnovers and bricks are flying out of nowhere. The defense seems stout, and Myles Turner is blocking every shot that is near the rim, but then the Bucks somehow forget the core concept of boxing out and not jumping on pump fakes. I suppose it’s not surprising given the volatility of this team, given its profile, and the attempt to gel new players and others stepping into larger roles. The 5-3 start has brought more good than bad, but if the Bucks could do something as simple as play better in the second quarter, that would be great.

Chicago was expected to be very average and likely in a play-in spot. But through the first few weeks of the season, the Bulls have been the surprise team of the season. They have a 6-1 record with wins against the Pistons, Magic, and Knicks. Josh Giddey has stepped up with an impressive stat line of 23.1 PPG, 10.0 APG, and 9.1 APG while shooting 41.9% from three-point range. Nikola Vucevic continues to provide the Bulls with a solid presence in the box score, despite the absence of Coby White, who has not played this season due to injury. Bulls fans are happy, but we will see how the team develops throughout the year.

Injury Report​

Chicago will not have Coby White (right calf) and Zach Collins (left scaphoid) available, and Ayo Dosunmu is listed as questionable due to a left quad contusion.

Milwaukee will not have Kevin Porter Jr., and Taurean Prince is listed as questionable with a neck strain.

Player To Watch​

Bobby Portis has had an unimpressive start to the season, averaging 8.8 PPG and 5.8 RPG while shooting under 40% from the floor. He is playing fewer minutes per game, but the offensive capabilities Bobby can provide just haven’t shown up this season, punctuated by an abysmal showing Tuesday night against the Raptors. Will Bobby want to prove something to the haters or the Bulls organization? If he does, let’s hope it’s productive for Milwaukee instead of self-sabotaging.

How to Watch​

FanDuel Sports Wisconsin 7:00 p.m. CST.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-game...-preview-start-time-tv-schedule-injury-report