The Bucks are doing much better, and against the Wizards who are sinking (14 defeats in a row), Doc Rivers' players sign a 6th victory in a row. It allows them to move into the positive with 10 victories for 9 defeats. Back after a break from a meeting, Giannis Antetokounmpo is immediately in action to score Milwaukee's first five points, including a powerful dunk from the baseline and an And-1 on two consecutive possessions.
Jordan Poole and Malcolm Brogdon responded by combining 14 points in a row to take the advantage (16-15). On the Bucks side, same situation since Giannis and AJ Green scored the Bucks' last 13 points of the first quarter. But the Wizards remain in front (29-28), while the “Greek Freak” is already 15 points away!
Discreet until then, Damian Lillard takes over, and he responds to Jonas Valanciunas with two 3-point baskets in a row. The Bucks regained control, and Jordan Poole failed to equalize. After free throws from Giannis, and especially a superb rainbow basket at the buzzer from Lillard, the locals returned to the locker room with a five-point lead (63-58). Like Giannis in the first act, Lillard scored 15 points.
The Wizards never give up
Returning from the locker room, the Bucks fared better in a great contest of clumsiness, and for the first time in the match, they took a 10-point lead. Except that Doc Rivers' players fail to drive the point home, and the Brogdon-Valanciunas-Poole trio take turns to bring the gap back to -4. This has the gift of stinging Giannis, who takes over the match. He is involved in 12 points in a row, and the Bucks regain this gap of 10 points (83-73). A gap that we still find at the start of the 4th quarter after a 3-pointer from Brook Lopez.
But the Wizards hang on, and once again, they get back to the score (105-103) with five minutes to play. The yo-yo continues, and the Bucks respond with a 10-0 with two long shots from Taurean Prince and Brook Lopez. At +12 (115-103) 90 seconds from the end, the mass is said and it is with free throws that the Bucks validate this 6th victory in a row.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– The Bucks collective. The “body language” does not betray, and the Bucks have rediscovered the desire to play together. This results in movement and a circulating ball, and ultimately finding the open shot. In the first period, 16 of their 22 baskets were scored after a pass, and in the end, the Bucks finished with 31 assists for 44 baskets.
– Jordan Poole cracked. While he had the 3-pointer to go ahead at the start of “money time”, the former Warriors missed it, and the Bucks followed up with a 10-0. In this time, Jordan Poole will accumulate two lost balls and a technical foul.
– French people are struggling. Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly returned the same result on shots with a 2 out of 8 on shots each. The two did not weigh at all on the meeting. The first has never managed to get near the circle, while the second seems to have struggled to find his place since the debut of Malcolm Brogdon.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
