Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers expressed frustration last week about games they should be winning but they did not have the personnel due to injuries. Among those ‘winnable games’ was the Brooklyn Nets.
The two met again on Thursday and this time with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton all playing. Still, they lost.
Not even their 20-point run in the fourth quarter was enough.
DAME CAPS A 20-0 RUN 🤯
Bucks trail by 1 in the final minute… pic.twitter.com/yNRzLLCTKD
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2025
Antetokounmpo had 27pts, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. This record means he has the longest active streak of 20+ points per game on 50 percent and up shooting.
Lillard started slow but still finished with 23 points, three rebounds, and seven assists, including the lay-up that capped off the 20-0 run against their visitors.
Middleton contributed 12 points while Bobby Portis had 15 off the bench.
Slow start and Giannis bench minutes doomed the Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks started appearing uninterested in the game when Antetokounmpo went to the bench in the first quarter to take his usual rest. This led to the Nets making a run and finished the opening quarter on top, 30-23.
The same thing happened in the second and third quarter when the Greek Freak was relieved
The visitors built as much as 15-point lead in the second quarter but the Bucks managed to close the gap at 12 points before halftime.
Third quarter came and they allowed the Nets a 9-2 run to build a 19-point lead in just two minutes.
The case was not that different in the fourth quarter. The Nets again rode on a 10-2 run to stretch to keep the Bucks chasing.
The Bucks remain in the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standing with the loss.
Next up for them are the Portrland Trailblazers on Saturday, still at the Fiserv Forum.
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