Bunkered in New Orleans since Monday due to winter storms, the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t even arrive at the Fiserv Forum until 5 pm Thursday for that night’s game against the Miami Heat. Originally scheduled for 7:30 EST, tipoff did not take place until 8:30 because of Milwaukee’s late arrival. At first lethargic and out of sync, the home team walked away with a 125-96 victory after falling behind 18-3 out of the gate.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Damian Lillard put up 29, 9 and 11. Playing his former team, Gary Trent Jr. caught fire off the bench, hitting 7 of 10 threes for 21 points of his own.
The victory was a testament to the can-do attitude of a Bucks team that has now won five straight and eight of nine to find themselves 25-17 on the season. During the postgame presser, Doc Rivers sounded like one proud coach.
Doc Rivers Praises His Players for Outstanding Effort Vs Miami Heat
“Really professional win tonight, it really was,” Rivers said. Although the players hadn’t palmed a basketball in three days, the Bucks coach emphasized that the team felt it was important to play the game at the scheduled time rather than postponing it. That said, it was a little weird getting back on a basketball court after being trapped in the Twilight Zone.
“You know, it’s funny, ” Rivers continued. “Everyone at halftime said they just didn’t have any coordination with the ball. Giannis was laughing. You don’t touch a ball for three days, you struggle a little bit.” It must have felt odd indeed, likely explaining Milwaukee’s sluggish start.
By the end of the first quarter, however, they closed within three, and from there they didn’t look back. The bench unit took a hit when Khris Middleton was scratched just before the game for injury management concerns (ankle). Trent Jr. more than made up for his absence, though, and Bobby Portis contributed 16 points and 8 rebounds.
Rivers credited his reserves for shifting the momentum early on, saying, “I thought that second group came in and really changed the tempo of the game, got stops. Gary Trent was absolutely amazing for us, Pat. But all those guys played well. That was as professional of a win as you can have.”
Milwaukee Bucks Rose to the Occasion Motivated by Team’s Star Duo
Coach also extolled the Bucks’ two superstars. According to Rivers, Giannis and Lillard played a major part mentally preparing the team for Thursday’s game. “Before the game, I have to say, Giannis and Dame really talked it up,” Rivers beamed. “Like, ‘Guys, no excuses. We’re at home, we’re here to win. We’re going to play this game.”
On the court as well, those two did the heavy lifting, business as usual. Despite the blowout, both players remained on the floor until Rivers subbed his starters out with 3:57 to go. Lillard led both teams with 36 minutes played.
Watching the game, you would never know Milwaukee’s plane had touched down just hours earlier, transported from a truly bizarre setting.
“It was weird,” Doc admitted. “Just sitting in a dang hotel room for three days with no basketball, nothing to do. I will say, the Four Seasons [Hotel] was amazing. All the employees slept there for three days themselves. They couldn’t go home, they were snowed in, too….We got to know each other very well, everybody, because it was the same group of people walking around the hotel for three days. Giannis was in a ballroom dribbling. I mean, there was literally nothing to do.
Unfortunately for the Bucks, there will be no home reprieve. En route to Los Angeles to kick off a four-game road trip against the Clippers, the team will board another plane Friday morning.
Rivers laughed. “When I said, ’10 a.m. flight,’ they looked at me like, ‘What?’ Then TP, who would never say this, said, ‘Coach, we just got off a plane.’ I said, ‘What do you want me to tell you.’ It’s a four, five hour flight, we need to get going.”
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on X at @ezsniper14 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
