RSS Bucks Team Notes

[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.

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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

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks vs. Rockets Player Grades: AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr outmatched on defense in loss

Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets got the better of Giannis Antetokoumpo and the Milwaukee Bucks by a final score of 122-115. A rough crunch time performance and self-inflicted wounds led to the Bucks’ fourth loss of the 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​

36 minutes, 37 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 14/25 FG, 9/14 FT, +0

It was a good game for Giannis, but it’s the first time he didn’t get a double-double all season. More importantly, after going 7/8 from the charity stripe, Giannis went 2/6 in the fourth quarter, all during the final four and a half minute stretch that cost the Bucks the game.

Grade: B+

Myles Turner​

34 minutes, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks, 6/11 FG, 1/3 3PT, -17

Turner was having a difficult time staying in front of some of the Rockets players, especially Alperen Sengun. There was a stretch of three straight possessions where Sengun beat Turner inside, and it hurt them in the end. Solid offensive day and rim protection keep this grade above a C.

Grade: B-

Ryan Rollins​

30 minutes, 19 points, 5 assists, 7/12 FG, 3/6 3PT, -15

Rollins made some big shots for the Bucks down the stretch, including a three that gave them a four-point cushion and a layup to tie the game. This was always going to be a difficult matchup with him having to guard Amen Thompson, but in holding him to 14 points on 6/13 shooting, he did as good a job as he could have.

Grade: B

AJ Green​

26 minutes, 3 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 fouls, 1/5 3PT, -6

This is a game that Green is going to want to toss into the fire after watching the film. He picked up two early fouls, which forced Doc to play Amir Coffey in the first quarter. Having to sit early made it hard for him to get going offensively. He gave effort on the defensive end, but he was unplayable while the Bucks were holding onto the lead.

Grade: D+

Gary Trent Jr.​

29 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 3/5 3PT, -21

While the -21 is a horrible look, I’m not placing it all on Trent. There were moments where he had to guard Kevin Durant, and in a game where Giannis is playing and Kuzma is doing a good job, that shouldn’t happen. He was efficient on his threes, but you still want more from Trent.

Grade: C

Kyle Kuzma​

30 minutes, 11 points, 4/7 FG, 3/6 3PT, +4

Kuz is nearing underrated defender territory. He’s had to guard a variety of players, including Karl Anthony-Towns, Josh Giddey, and now Kevin Durant. There was a stretch of time where Durant was 1/4 with Kuzma defending him in the third quarter. He also had his best three-point shooting day of the season.

Grade: A-

Cole Anthony​

18 minutes, 12 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 turnovers, 5/9 FG, +8

This was a much better day for Anthony compared to Friday. He was aggressive in the paint, only took two three-pointers, and continued to be the floor general for the bench unit.

Grade: B

Bobby Portis​

24 minutes, 11 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 4/4 FG, 2/4 FT, +9

This is more of the type of game you want from Bobby. He didn’t miss a shot from the field, took them in rhythm, and even snagged three steals. There are always going to be defensive issues, but this is a much better showing for Portis.

Grade: B-

Doc Rivers​

The theme from everyone postgame was that they let this one slip away, and that partially falls on Rivers. While I understand the need to sit Kuzma late in the fourth quarter, considering he played 12:56 straight, why not give him a rest earlier in the quarter, so you could’ve used him in crunch time? The decision to throw Trent and Green back out there to defend Durant is a head-scratching one for sure.

Grade: C

Limited Minutes: Amir Coffey

DNP-CD: Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr., Jericho Sims, Thanasis Antetokoumpo, Mark Sears

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

Bonus Bucks Bits​

• Prior to the game, Doc Rivers gave an update about the status of Taurean Prince, who has missed the past two contests with a neck strain. He said that Prince will be out until they can get an MRI done on his neck, presumably to see the severity of the strain moving forward.
• The Bucks only scored seven points in the final 4:49 of game clock, while the Rockets scored 22 en route to the win. Giannis said that the lack of ball movement and passing really hurt them down the stretch:

“The ball was sticking a lot. When I had the ball, guys were not moving, our spacing was not good. We have to play the way we play through the first three quarters, I know in the fourth quarter you have to be smarter, but we gotta keep playing with pace, good spacing, guys gotta get in the paint, and just being smarter down the stretch.”

• I asked Kuzma what this game meant for the team as a learning experience for a team with a lot of new and younger pieces:

“Every game is a learning situation, especially for this type of team. A lot of new guys, new faces. You need these type of games. It sucks to lose, but there are some positives. You just have to learn from the things we did wrong, so we don’t do this again. That’s life.”

• The Rockets lead the league in offensive rebounding percentage, per Cleaning The Glass. Though defensive rebounding has been an issue for the Bucks this year, it’s tough to deal with Steven Adams and Clint Capela off the bench. Their 20 offensive boards led to 18 second-chance points.
• Doc Rivers said one of the biggest factors in the first half was the Bucks’ ability to turn over the Rockets and get easy baskets. In the first 24 minutes, the Bucks forced 11 turnovers, which they turned into 21 of their 61 first-half points. In the second half, they only forced six and scored nine points off those turnovers.

“I thought the difference in the game was we turned them over, so it was equal [in relation to the Rockets proficiency on the offensive glass]. But in the second half, we turned it over and they kept getting offensive rebounds, and that made it a tough game to win.”

Up Next​

The Bucks will travel south to take on another team from Texas, the Dallas Mavericks, on Monday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. Central time from the American Airlines Center, with the action viewable on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-anal...ayer-grades-stats-aj-green-giannis-kyle-kuzma

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Taurean Prince will miss extended time

It looks like the Milwaukee Bucks will be without one of their top reserves for some time. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Taurean Prince has a herniated disc in his neck and will be out for a “significant amount” of time. Prince had missed the last two games with what was initially deemed a neck strain, and head coach Doc Rivers said yesterday, before the Bucks’ 122-115 loss to the Houston Rockets, that Prince would be out until an MRI could be done. Per a team news release today, the MRI actually happened last week and “further updates will be provided as appropriate.:

There is a wide-ranging spectrum in terms of when Prince could make his return. On the shorter end, the timeline could be a few weeks, as we have seen in the past. While not the exact same injury, back in January, Kyrie Irving suffered from a bulging disc in his back. Thankfully for Irving, it didn’t require surgery, and he made his return to the lineup on January 14, just eight days after the injury was revealed to the general public.

The other end of the spectrum could mean that Prince’s NBA career could be in jeopardy, considering his age. Emeka Okafor suffered a herniated disk in his neck during offseason training after the 2012–13 season at age 30. It took Okafor four years to make his return to the NBA, playing just 26 games for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2017–18 season at the age of 34. He averaged just 4.4 points per game and 4.6 rebounds, and then retired after that season. Prince will turn 32 years old this upcoming March. Although there is no official timeline for his return, there is cause for concern, considering past examples.

Prince was having a solid season coming off the bench in his second season in Milwaukee, after signing a one-year contract plus a player option this offseason. In the eight games he played, Prince averaged 21.1 MPG, 6.1 PPG, shot 42.9% from three-point range on 3.5 attempts per contest, and was a cumulative +13. We’ll likely see more of Amir Coffey filling in those gaps in the rotation, a heavier workload for Kyle Kuzma, and potentially seeing Gary Harris or Andre Jackson Jr. seeing some spot minutes. We’ll see how long Prince is out, but here’s hoping he makes a speedy and complete recovery.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-inju...an-prince-out-significant-time-herniated-disc

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Bucks 116, Mavericks 114

Well, in a game that absolutely nobody wants to remember, the Bucks eked out a win against the Dallas Mavericks in a game that had no right being that close. Giannis and Kyle Kuzma led the charge in the scoring column, combining for 56 points. Dallas was led by Cooper Flagg, who dropped 26 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

It was a brick-fest to start from both teams, but the Bucks eventually got going from three to take a 14-5 lead at the first timeout; Giannis threw some absolute dimes to get his teammates open as the Mavs swarmed him. The Mavericks, powered by Brandon Williams, then increased their defensive intensity to go on a 9-2 run, forcing Doc to call a timeout. That timeout did very little, with Dallas proceeding to go on an 8-0 run not long after, with Klay Thompson nailing consecutive transition threes. A Bobby Portis corner triple steadied the Bucks’ ship slightly, as the Mavs led 31-27 after one.

Giannis attempted, and made, his first shot early in the second (a ferocious dunk), and then followed it up with another big slam on the following possession. The Bucks then went cold for a few possessions, allowing the Mavs to extend their lead to seven in the early going, but two AJ Green triples spurred an 8-2 Milwaukee run to tie the game at 39 with 7:25 remaining. Giannis exited the game not long after that, and Ryan Rollins picked up the slack with a personal 5-0 run. From there, things went pear-shaped for the visitors, with turnovers and poor offensive possessions galore, ending the period with the Mavs holding a 57-53 advantage.

AJ Green buried a three to start the half, but it mainly went downhill from there. Giannis became frustrated by not receiving foul calls and began looking disinterested on both ends; he rushed on offence and his positioning on defence was horrible. The Bucks did not score for over three minutes and looked completely discombobulated out there as the Mavs extended their edge to 10. Cole Anthony continued his horrid night after four first-half turnovers, taking a bunch of dumb shots, as the Mavs took an 88-79 lead into the final frame.

Things didn’t get better for Milwaukee to open the final frame, with Giannis committing consecutive turnovers to allow the Mavs to increase their lead to 13 as Doc called an early timeout. The Bucks went cold for a period after that, but fortunately, so did the Mavs. Milwaukee then took advantage of that lull and went on a serious run, eliminating the deficit and taking a six-point advantage with five minutes remaining, behind contributions from Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, and Giannis. The Mavs then took advantage of really sloppy offence from the Bucks (as they are wont to do!) to take a one-point lead, but the Bucks wrestled it back and Giannis was at the line to shoot two with 1:09 on the clock to put them up three—Mavs timeout. Cooper Flagg was able to get to the basket and draw the foul on Kuzma to reduce Milwaukee’s lead to one with 1:00 left. The Bucks then had yet another horrible offensive possession, allowing Cooper Flagg to score in transition, which was then followed by (you guessed it!) another bad offensive possession and a Giannis missed three. But wait, there’s more! Kuzma then stole it on the ensuing possession to put the Bucks up three, only for Giannis to stupidly foul PJ Washington on his three (I nearly had a conniption at this point). However, Washington missed the second and had to miss the third intentionally; the Bucks grabbed the rebound and won in a gross fashion.

Stat That Stood Out​

Milwaukee’s defensive rebounding issues were on full display tonight, yet again. The Mavs grabbed 16 O-boards to the Bucks’ 8.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...l-score-recap-giannis-kyle-kuzma-cooper-flagg

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks Poll: Should AJ Green or Gary Trent Jr. return to the bench?

Our Tuesday Tracker is back! Only two weeks late (mea culpa) due to technical issues we had with our new poll client. But I’m excited to unveil our new look here, because we now have the capability to allow multiple responses to a single question. In fact, you’ll have a chance to do that below!

Otherwise, this is the same polling we’ve done in previous seasons each week. If you’re new around here, we want your opinions on talking points around the Bucks, and some questions will return in future editions. You’ll also have a weekly chance to weigh in on Doc Rivers’ and Jon Horst’s job performances—essentially an approval poll, like you’d see for a politician. We end with a question about the team’s title chances.

In this week’s Tuesday Tracker, sound off on Milwaukee’s small-ish wing duo in the starting lineup, Myles Turner’s offense, and the visible issues currently nagging at a solid 7-4 squad. And while we’re a ways from the deadline, it’s never too early to start thinking about who might make for a compelling outgoing trade package.

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As always, this poll will be open until midnight Central on Friday, and we’ll post the results later that day. Thanks for voting!

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-poll...oc-rivers-myles-turner-gary-trent-jr-aj-green

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Deer Diaries Episode 221: The little details

After a 2-2 week, which could have been 3-1 or 1-3, Kyle and Jack go through the Bucks’ slate that saw a game-winner, a fourth quarter collapse, and everything in between.

They discuss Milwaukee’s late-game offensive plan and identity (editor’s note: or lack thereof), as well as its sustainability, especially after Monday’s game against the Mavericks. They also question the defensive assignments some players have and whether those are the best options for the team. With an underrated showing this season, is the Kyle Kuzma rehabilitation project going well? What could throw a wrench into those plans, such as playing him at the 3?

Then, to end, Jack provides an update on the 36ers, and they both discuss season 2 of the Netflix show “Nobody Wants This.”

You can watch our faces move to match the audio over on Brew Hoop’s YouTube channel:

Here it is on Apple Podcasts:

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For those on Spotify:

And it is available everywhere else MP3 files are shared on the web!

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-podc...etokounmpo-kyle-kuzma-milwaukee-bucks-podcast

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Charlotte Hornets Preview: Douse the nest

In a preview before Friday night’s NBA Cup game, the 7-4 Milwaukee Bucks head to the Spectrum Center to take on Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel and the 3-7 Charlotte Hornets. The Bucks have shown a tendency to play to their opponent’s level—good and bad—so tonight’s game is a chance to right that ship and set the tone against a Hornets team that has lost three in a row.

Where We’re At​

Rebounding aside—and that’s a very big aside—the Bucks looked good against the Rockets, controlling the game for the majority of the night. They were feisty, urgent, and poised (well, for the most part). Yet they lost. Against the Mavericks, they looked a different squad entirely. The game had very little rhythm and was far more notable for what went wrong than anything that went right. Yet they won. This has made for quite the conflicting fan experience. After all, we want our team to win and look good doing so. Up against a perennially struggling Hornets team that already has five losses by 16 or more points, tonight’s game offers the chance for self-correction. For the Bucks, this is all about the mind game—and it starts with Giannis, whose cerebrality has been questionable at best thus far despite his otherworldly production and dominance. Get this right and the Bucks should exterminate the Hornets.

In what must feel like déjà vu for Charlotteans, the Hornets are again NBA basement dwellers. Currently 12th in the East, the Hornets’ only wins have come against the combined 5-26 Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Utah Jazz. Franchise player LaMelo Ball is dealing with yet another ankle injury and has only suited up for six games so far, while secondary “star” Brandon Miller has only played twice and remains out with a shoulder injury. On the positive side, fourth overall pick Kon Knueppel has looked great, averaging 16.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 3.0 APG on .452/.400/.913 shooting splits, and was just one assist shy of a triple-double against the Lakers on Monday. The Hornets’ other standout rookie, 7’1” Ryan Kalkbrenner, has also exceeded expectations thus far. He’s started all ten games and put up 9.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.0 SPG, and 2.3 BPG in just 27 MPG.

Injury Report​

For the Bucks, Giannis is questionable (left knee; patellar tendinopathy), while Taurean Prince (neck; herniated disk) and Kevin Porter Jr. (meniscus surgery) remain out.

LaMelo Ball (right ankle; impingement) practiced with the G League’s Greensboro Swarm on Tuesday, but is listed as out against the Bucks. Also out are Josh Green (left shoulder surgery), Brandon Miller (left shoulder; subluxation), and old foe Grant Williams (right knee surgery). Probable are old friend Pat Connaughton (illness), Collin Sexton (right ankle; strain), and KJ Simpson (left AC joint; sprain).

Player To Watch​

In three games against the Bucks last year, Moussa Diabaté turned into Ben Wallace: 7.3 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 1.3 BPG on 62% shooting from the field in just 26.4 minutes. But it was on the offensive glass—aka the current Bucks’ kryptonite—that he went absolutely berserk, hauling in an absurd 6.7 per contest, including a career high 10 in a 115-114 win last November. Through ten games this year—all off the bench—the 6’10” big is averaging career highs across the board (including 10.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 1.5 BPG) and if the Bucks don’t put serious work into boxing him out, he might just muck the game up enough to give the Hornets a chance.

How To Watch​

FanDuel Sports Wisconsin at 6:00 p.m. CST.

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

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Hornets 111, Bucks 100

Without Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks posted a lowly performance against the Charlotte Hornets, losing 111-100. Ryan Rollins was the lone bright spot for the visitors, with 25 points, six assists, and five rebounds. The Hornets were led by Miles Bridges, who dropped 20 points, six assists, and six rebounds.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

With Giannis out, Myles Turner got hot early, going 2/2 from three in the opening two possessions. Gary Trent Jr. and Ryan Rollins also got to the cup for buckets, but Milwaukee couldn’t contain the Hornets’ second-round pick Ryan Kalkbrenner as he got two early O-boards and putbacks, Bucks down 12-17 at the first timeout. Speaking of offensive rebounds, Moussa Diabaté, who majorly hurt the Bucks last season in that department, came in and grabbed two almost immediately. However, Ryan Rollins poised the Bucks with consecutive perimeter jumpers to equal the tally at 23 with 4:32 left in the first. Unfortunately, the visitors cooled off for the rest of the quarter as the Hornets continued their hot shooting at 58.3% for the period. Charlotte up 27-35 after one.

Bucks fan favourite Pat Connaughton entered the game to start the second and, of course, nailed two threes and a transition layup in short order. Diabaté grabbed his fourth offensive rebound early in the second, as the Bucks’ struggles boxing him out continued and the Hornets’ lead expanded to double digits. Buckets from Turner and Rollins gave the Bucks some much-needed offence, but they still couldn’t knuckle down on defence; Charlotte up 49-40 with under five minutes remaining in the half. From there, both teams went bucket for bucket, for the most part, with Turner getting going again. Hornets still up, 59-50, at half.

Things were ugly for the Bucks to open the third, as they gave up a 13-6 run to start. Kuz missing multiple layups in the half-court and transition certainly didn’t help. From there, the Hornets continued to feast on Milwaukee’s lacklustre defence, expanding their edge to 19 about halfway through the third. The Bucks tried to stem the Hornets’ scoring run by going to the zone, and, well, I guess it worked? They missed some wide-open shots, but it allowed the visitors to get out and run, reducing the deficit to 10 behind a 9-0 run. Milwaukee had a bunch of chances to reduce Charlotte’s lead further, but faltered on both ends, as the Hornets led 83-72 after three.

Charlotte wasn’t having any of Milwaukee’s comeback to open the fourth, going on a 7-2 run out of the gate as Doc called a TO. Connaughton continued to punish the Bucks with his heady play. From there, the Bucks couldn’t get going on offence, making it just a matter of time before Doc waved the white flag. That flag was waved with just under six minutes remaining, as the third team came in for a run. There was some good stuff from Mark Sears and Pete Nance in garbage time, though. Hornets win.

Stat That Stood Out​

The Bucks just couldn’t keep the Hornets off the free throw line, as they shot 27 times at the charity stripe compared to the Bucks’ 13—a season-long trend.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...ap-ryan-rollins-myles-turner-ryan-kalkbrenner

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Bucks vs. Hornets Player Grades: Ryan Rollins’ big game not enough in disappointing loss

With Giannis sitting this one out, the Milwaukee Bucks sleepwalked through their game with the Charlotte Hornets, losing 111-100. Ryan Rollins played really well, but just about everyone else failed to show up. Miles Bridges top-scored for the Hornets with 20 points, and five other Hornets reached double figures. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast Bucks In Six Minutes below.

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Player Grades​

Myles Turner​

29 minutes, 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists 7/14 FG, 3/8 3P, -12

I thought Myles played well on offence, setting good screens and being aggressive. That said, Doc may have to consider having Turner play more of the Lopez-style drop instead of the aggressive coverage he’s currently in when it’s not working; he was getting burned way too much last night by drivers getting past his hips.

Grade: B-

Ryan Rollins​

32 minutes, 25 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 10/15 FG, 4/6 3P, -5

What do you know? Another great Rollins game. Look, Ryan’s performance was really the only good thing to come out of this game. He was efficient on offence, though I thought he took half a step back on D. Still, if Ryan hadn’t played, this would have been a 30-point loss.

Grade: A

AJ Green​

27 minutes, 3 points, 1/4 FG, 1/3 3P, -9

As a guy who can’t really self-create, AJ struggled to make an impact last night without Giannis. Not much more to say about it. He didn’t really hurt the team like some others did, but he didn’t help much either.

Grade: C

Gary Trent Jr.​

29 minutes, 2 points, 4 assists, 1/5 FG, 0/2 3P, -25

Yikes! Yet another nothing-y game for Gary. To GT’s defence, he can’t consistently create for himself (though I’m not sure he knows this), so he’s going to look worse without Giannis playing. At the same time, it’s undeniable how bad he looks out there doing anything but catching and shooting right now (did you see him on the fast break?). Gary’s defence is also quite gimmicky and has not been very effective this season.

Grade: D+

Kyle Kuzma​

29 minutes, 8 points, 4 assists, 3/12 FG, 0/2 3P, -12

Yeah, there was no Kuzmania last night. None at all. This game was reminiscent of last season; he was missing layups, taking ill-advised shots, and generally looking out of control. No bueno.

Grade: D

Cole Anthony​

18 minutes, 4 points, 3 assists, 2/12 FG, -18

Uhhhh, is it time to look at Mark Sears to replace Anthony in the rotation? Maybe not just yet, but it’s bad right now for Cole. This game was a new low, which is actually tough to do after his last few games. He had no plan on offence, just taking loads of low-quality shots (mostly fading mid-rangers). And then you’re obviously getting next to nothing on defence.

Grade: F+

Bobby Portis​

23 minutes, 14 points, 8 rebounds, 7/12 FG, -6

Overall, Bobby played an OK game. He gave them a spark on offence in that third-quarter run. Portis did get outrebounded by Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate quite frequently, which wasn’t ideal; that said, Kalkbrenner is massive, and Diabate is one of the top offensive rebounders in the NBA. Bobby is not the answer to the Bucks’ rebounding woes, but fans already knew that.

Grade: B

Jericho Sims​

18 minutes, 2 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1/2 FG, -8

Considering his limitations, Jericho was alright in his minutes. He did his job, and I do like the fact that he had a few assists. However, it should be noted that Pete Nance might actually be a better fit as the fourth big on this team because of his increased offensive capabilities (despite him being slighter than Sims).

Grade: C

Doc Rivers​

Look, this team will always struggle to some degree without Giannis, given its current setup, so I can’t put that on Doc. That said, the Hornets were also missing two of their best players in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, and barely broke a sweat pummeling the Bucks. The combination of Green and Trent is not really working, especially on defence, but I’m not sure what the alternative is. Maybe they try Amir Coffey to get some more size and foot speed. I thought the zone helped that third-quarter run, so credit to Doc for that, I guess? But it also felt like Charlotte just missed a bunch of open shots. I think what buttons Doc pushes from here will reveal a lot about his ability to problem-solve.

Grade: C-

Limited Minutes: Amir Coffey

Garbage Time: Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr., Thanasis Antetokoumpo, Mark Sears, Pete Nance

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

Bonus Bucks Bits​

• This was another solid showing from Mark Sears in garbage time (seven points on 2/3 from deep in six minutes). At the very least, I do think his ability to shoot off the catch could well be better than Cole Anthony’s. Can he get downhill and create against NBA athletes? That’s a legit question. But if Anthony keeps playing like this, Sears could be worth a try.
• Same thing for Pete Nance, who has clearly improved over the summer (10 points on 4/5 shooting in four minutes).
• The Bucks lost second-chance points 5-19.
• Moussa Diabate’s ability to grab offensive rebounds needs to be studied. It’s on the scouting report every night, and yet he still grabs them at a ridiculous rate.
• Ryan Kalkbrenner, who the Hornets picked up early in the second round, looks like an absolute steal.
• Former Buck Pat Connaughton dropping an efficient 11 on the Bucks was the most predictable thing ever, LOL. The Bucks players embraced PC after the game, which was nice to see.

Up Next​

The Bucks head home to play the Charlotte Hornets once again on Friday, this time in an NBA Cup game. Watch at 7:00 p.m. Central on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-anal...stats-ryan-rollins-myles-turner-miles-bridges

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Taurean Prince undergoes surgery to address herniated disc

Per a team release, Bucks forward Taurean Prince underwent surgery today to address the herniated disc in his neck. The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert G. Watkins IV at the Watkins Spine Center in Los Angeles. Prince remains out indefinitely, and further updates will be provided as necessary.

Prince had been thriving in his role this season, averaging 6.1 points on 42.9% shooting from three and showing great defensive intensity, exemplified by his average of 1.1 steals and blocks per game. TP’s absence will only exacerbate the Bucks’ lack of depth at the small forward position, which was already very thin.

So, where does Milwaukee go from here? Amir Coffey is likely to receive more minutes. Gary Harris may come into the fold. However, when the Bucks can play two shooting guards at the two and three positions, I think they will try to do so as much as possible.

Bringing in external help seems unlikely due to the number of Bucks with player options for next season, making them harder to cut. Also, a disabled player exception would appear not to be on the cards because of the uncertain timeframe for Prince’s recovery. Thus, it will likely have to be a problem that is papered over internally, by whatever means necessary.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-injury-report/54089/milwaukee-bucks-nba-injury-reporttaurean-prince

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets Preview: Time to get their lick back

The Milwaukee Bucks will look to continue their winning streak in the NBA Cup with a home matchup against the Charlotte Hornets. The Bucks will aim to get revenge after being defeated (without Giannis) by the short-handed Hornets on Wednesday night in Charlotte, 111-100.

Where We’re at​

Yes, the Bucks didn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo, but that is no excuse for how they played on Wednesday night. The Hornets were without their two best players, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, and have a weak roster, which made them even more beatable. So, why did the Bucks lose? Two of the usual reasons: too much fouling—which led to the Hornets attempting plenty of free throws—and poor rebounding. However, the Bucks did a better job at limiting the turnovers and actually took advantage of the Hornets’. The hope that having Giannis in this game should mean Milwaukee wins easily, but Milwaukee has had issues with playing to the level of the opposition, including against bad teams.

Injury Report​

The Bucks will not have Taurean Prince (who had surgery on his neck for a herniated disk) and Kevin Porter Jr. (meniscus surgery) remains out. Giannis is listed as probable after getting some rest on Wednesday.

The Hornets will be without Ryan Kalkbrenner (personal reasons), Josh Green (left shoulder surgery), Brandon Miller (left shoulder subluxation), and old foe Grant Williams (right knee surgery). LaMelo Ball is expected to return to the lineup tonight, as he has been upgraded to probable.

Player To Watch​

I am the biggest AJ Green fan on the Brew Hoop staff, which is why it pains me to say that Green has looked rough the past week. Green is struggling on the defensive side, similar to his wingmate, Gary Trent Jr., and the fouls are piling up quickly, forcing him to sit on the bench for extended periods. Usually reliable on offense, he has had his struggles on that side of the ball as well. While he shot the ball well against the Mavericks, in the other three games, he has been 4/16 from three. For the Bucks—and more importantly, me—he has to perform better.

How To Watch​

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

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

 

[Milwaukee Bucks]

Rapid Recap: Bucks 147, Hornets 134 (OT)

The Milwaukee Bucks remain undefeated in NBA Cup play through 10 games, beating the Charlotte Hornets in overtime, 147-134. Kyle Kuzma had his best game as a Buck, going for 29 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Giannis ended with 25 points, 18 assists, and seven rebounds. Rookie Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges each scored 32 for the Hornets, with Knueppel going 12/20 from the floor.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap​

Ryan Rollins got the party started on the first possession of the game, nailing a corner three. Offensive rebounding was an issue once again for the Bucks in the early goings, with Moussa Diabate grabbing two boards in the first three minutes of the game. Kyle Kuzma was inserted into the starting lineup, with Doc Rivers swapping him in for Gary Trent Jr., and he made his presence felt early. Kuzma scored six straight points to put the Bucks up by one with 6:21 to go. Myles Turner then caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting three straight from distance, followed by a Kuzma three to put them up five. After staggering the pair of Turner and Giannis for the last couple of games, the Bucks went back to a full-bench lineup for the final 2:51 of the quarter. It worked initially, with the Bucks going up seven off the first possession, but the Hornets quickly took control. They went on an 11-0 run to briefly take the lead in the late stages. Yet, a pull-up mid-range jumper from Anthony and a three from Portis with 10 seconds left sent the Bucks up by one, 34-33, going into the second.

The rarely used Gary Harris started the second with a corner three off an assist from Giannis. Then the Bucks’ defense began to fall apart, with the Hornets’ guards blowing by them in the 2-3 zone. Charlotte scored on three drives to the lane and was able to re-take the lead in part because of that. Doc finally called a timeout after Sion James hit a three, putting the Hornets up by six with 7:20 to go. The Bucks couldn’t find any momentum on the defensive end, even without LaMelo Ball on the floor. With the Bucks down by four, the Hornets went on a 9-3 run to go up by 10. Kuzma continued his strong performance, scoring a couple of layups and even assisting on one. Then the highlight of the half came when Tre Mann rose and dunked on Turner to put the visitors back up by 10. The Bucks did get within six with 1:12 to go in the quarter, but a late dunk from Diabate sent the Bucks into the locker room down by eight, 69-61. Charlotte was running a blistering offense, at one point shooting 11/15 in the quarter, before finishing 13/21 for 36 points to the Bucks’ 27.

The third quarter was a bit of a back-and-forth between the two sides, but there were some positives in it for the Bucks. AJ Green, who was in the midst of a poor run of form, got going on the offensive end. Green hit a couple of threes and made three free throws after being fouled by rookie Kon Knueppel. After the second three and a spinning layup in transition by Giannis, the Bucks got it back within four points, forcing a Hornets timeout. Milwaukee continued to find their feet offensively in the third, even after the timeout, going on a 12-5 run to take back the lead, with Turner and Rollins hitting threes, and Kuzma finishing it off with an and-one layup. It became a nip-and-tuck game from there on out, with neither team gaining much of an edge. Unlike in the first quarter, the all-bench lineup worked against the Hornets, building up a six-point lead with 1:33 to go. Charlotte was able to bring it down to two points, but a Gary Harris banked triple with 12 seconds left gave the Bucks a 103-98 lead heading into the fourth.

Things stayed tight as far as the middle point of the quarter, with both teams trading buckets. The Bucks did lead by three early, but a four-point run for Miles Bridges off some free throws and a layup gave the Hornets the lead. Milwaukee did come back to tie it a few minutes later, but a Knueppel layup gave Charlotte the lead right back. After the Hornets went up by four a few minutes later, Rollins and Kuzma came alive again, with the former Toledo PG hitting a three and then a transition layup to give the Bucks the lead right back. Both sides traded buckets again until Rollins hit a mid-range jumper to give the Bucks a two-point lead with 1:18 left in regulation. After a foul by Giannis put the Bucks over the limit with under two minutes, Ball only hit 1/2 of his free throws. Kuzma again proved his mettle down the stretch with another hook shot to put the Bucks up by three with 27 ticks left on the clock. On the next possession, a wild sequence of events unfolded when a missed poster by Bridges led to Knueppel hitting a big-time three to tie the game. Giannis then tried to recreate his magical game-winner from last week against the Pacers, but this one fell way short. To the OT period we went.

Turner came alive in the most significant moments of the game in overtime, hitting two three-pointers, and after a dunk from Giannis, the Bucks went up by six, 137-131, with 2:25 on the clock. The lead got as big as nine after Kuzma nailed a wing three, but Bridges answered right back with a three of his own. After a layup from Giannis, he stole the ball away from Bridges, leading to a wide-open dunk to seal the game.

Stat That Stood Out​

“Live by the three, die by the three” has in some ways become the new mantra in the NBA, and it certainly was for the Bucks tonight. In this case, they lived, shooting 20/34 (58.8%) from deep, while the Hornets shot 17/46 (37%). It especially lifted Milwaukee in the third quarter when they were trailing, as they went 5/7 from deep to come back from a nine-point deficit and take a five-point lead heading into the fourth.

Source: https://www.brewhoop.com/bucks-scor...-kyle-kuzma-giannis-ryan-rollins-kon-knueppel