The Entertainment of the Bucks Regular Season Continues
The Milwaukee Bucks upped their record to (25-10) on the season as they beat the (5-29) San Antonio Spurs on the road in a game that featured some pretty amazing blocked shots. It came down to the end; a win is a win.
This is the second, and final time, these teams will play this season. Milwaukee won game one in Milwaukee 132-119. Now they have swept the season series.
Back earlier this year I dreamt up an unusual premise that got me quite a bit of push-back: Could and should the Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo for Victor Wembanyama? That piece is here.
After watching the play tonight of Victor Wembanyama, it is crazy to think what he might become in the next few years.
Wemby block on Giannis🤯 pic.twitter.com/s8bzUH96ew
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) January 5, 2024
Here are the “Three Studs” for the Milwaukee Bucks:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis dropped 44 on the Spurs tonight and Milwaukee needed them all. He played 40 minutes; he is averaging 35 minutes a game this season.
Giannis also had 14 rebounds and an important 7 assists. He also only turned the ball over once.
Giannis is 4th in the league right now averaging 31.1 points a game. He continues to make a case for league MVP.
He is the greatest living athlete in Wisconsin today.
Giannis Antetokounmpo on @wemby:
“He’s unbelievable. Unbelievable talent can score at-will, plays the right way. Plays to win it was was great playing against him.”#FearTheDeer #Porvida #NBA pic.twitter.com/IfE5SDqUDF
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) January 5, 2024
Khris Middleton
12 points in 15 minutes isn’t too bad. Not a lot of people expected Middleton to play because the game was a back-to-back but he played.
It was great to see.
Middleton was a cool and efficient 2-3 from 3. He also had five timely assists. As he plays more this team’s odds to compete for an NBA Championship only get better and better.
Malik Beasley
Malik Beasley had a good, “workmanlike” game tonight against San Antonio. Beasley scored 10 points, shooting 66.7% from the field. He played the role of a primary defender. He also was valuable to distributing the ball and making the extra pass, keeping things moving and not turning over the ball. (He only had two turnovers.)
Beasley is going to continue to play a valuable role, whether it is as a starter or in more of a primary bench role when Jae Crowder returns.
Honorary Opponent Stud: It’s Victor Wembanyama time!
The Spurs, as a team, only average 110.1 points per game. Wembanyama leads the team in scoring with 18.9 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounding with 10.2 rebounds per game.
Now we all see why: he is on the 24-minute-per-game restriction which really hurts them.
Greg Popovich is a legendary, amazing coach who gets the most out of his players so I am sure he has a plan. But wow, if they just let him play they’d probably have more than 5 wins.
After tonight the Spurs lead the all-time series 53-46. You really have to wonder if Wembanyama can continue to grow and get strong(see Giannis) what a bright future this team could have again.
Related: Bucks vs Spurs Game Two Preview
Duds
AJJ (Andre Jackson Jr.)
5 minutes, 1 foul, 1 rebound. He just never really had much of an opportunity and when he was out there, he looked like a rookie. And that is ok. He is still a rookie.
Bobby Portis
There is an increasingly interesting movement on #buckstwt to trade Portis. I’m not so sure about that; he does bring an important toughness and intensity to this team. However, tonight was not his night. 21 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds.
He came into the game and fired off a three. He just never seemed to find his shot.
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