The Milwaukee Bucks bagged their fourth straight W Sunday with a 123-109 victory over the 76ers, powered by Giannis Antetokounmpo and another thoroughly dominant performance: 34 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists and no turnovers while making 13 of 17 shots. At 24-17, Milwaukee sits fourth in the East just two games behind the Knicks in third.
Maintaining the energy and tempo that the team has emphasized, they also won their fourth straight first quarter by at least nine points. Last night’s 30-21 advantage was the smallest over that stretch.
The Bucks did suffer a lapse in the second period, falling behind 36-32 and forcing Doc Rivers to call timeout, but they closed the half on an 11-2 run and did not trail again.
Khris Middleton continues to produce steadily off the bench, ending the night with 13 PTS, 5 REB and 8 AST. Another solid showing did not, however, spare him some friendly fire postgame.
Giannis Provides Encouraging Evaluation on Bucks’ New 6th Man
Asked about Middleton’s progress since the forward moved to the bench to manage lingering ankle issues, Antetokounmpo seized the opportunity to razz his teammate and friend.
“You got to get out the hood first,” Giannis yukked, “he’s in the hood right now. You know how you say when you’re coming off the bench….The starters are the suburbs. You gotta get out of there.”
After shooting 2-7 his first game out of the starting lineup, Middleton has settled into his role. Over the past five games, in 23.6 minutes per contest, he is averaging 13.4 PPG, 5.8 APG and a 60.5 FG%. In reduced playing time, those numbers all exceed his season averages (12.9, 5.1, 48.0%). Not that he ever doubted him, Giannis talked up Middleton’s contributions:
“Overall, slowly, slowly I believe it’s going to ramp up, but right now he is [still] helping us. Playing with high IQ, making good plays, making shots, being vocal. In the 25 minutes that he is there you can feel his presence. He’s going to ramp up eventually.”
“It’s Like Overcompensating”: Giannis Keeps the Jokes Coming But Khris Does Him Worse
One reporter noted that, despite Middleton’s reduced mobility (“He could never jump high,” Giannis capriciously countered), the Bucks play with even better pace when he shares the floor. Indeed, the team’s improvement in that area, something Damian Lillard is actively pushing as point guard, has been key to winning 7 of their last 8 games.
In acknowledging that Middleton’s impact, however, Giannis wasn’t going to let him off the hook.
“It’s like overcompensating, because he moves like a turtle. We have to move faster for him, defensively and offensively. It’s just a habit that we form as a team. We know Khris isn’t going to move as fast, and when he’s trying to move fast, he’s a little bit faster than a turtle. So we just have to kind of do that extra work for him. Khris knows.”
Keeping up the hint of a wry smile throughout his remarks, Giannis said “of course” he gives his fellow 12th year Buck a hard time vis-a-vis, not just via comments in a press conference. “He gives me a harder time,” Antetokounmpo claimed.
Is that true?
“It probably is,” conceded Middleton. “Yeah, it probably is, I’ll give him that.”
Enjoying a three-day rest between games for the first time since December 28-31, the Bucks fly south to New Orleans for a Wednesday matchup with the Pelicans.
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