Bucks lose at home
The now (46-26) Milwaukee Bucks lost to the (40-32) Los Angeles Lakers at home on Tuesday Night (128-124). It was a double-overtime game that slipped away from the Bucks in the 4th quarter. Up to the point the Bucks had been in control the whole time. (LA erased a 19-point 4th quarter deficit.) Milwaukee and head coach Doc Rivers played all of the starters a ton. The only possible silver lining for this one is that it really allowed the starters ample time to play with tired legs.
Milwaukee was up 101-91 with 3:08 to play, but LA was able to make it interesting. In the 4th quarter, Milwaukee just turned the ball over too much and simply could not buy a basket. That led to some pretty interesting (and tired) play.
The Bucks had an impressive defensive effort in the first half holding the Lakers to 42 points. Milwaukee led 58-42 at the intermission.
This was a home loss the Bucks would love to have back. This was the last and final time these teams will play. The Lakers defeated the Bucks on March 8th and with LA’s win tonight, they have swept the season series.
The Bucks were 49 of 118 from the field. They ended the game with 61 team rebounds.
Milwaukee has ten games remaining before the end of the season.
Up next for Milwaukee is a game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans on Thursday night.
This game is not worth the attention it is getting. On to the next
— Bart Winkler (@BartWinklerShow) March 27, 2024
Here are the studs in the difficult loss.
Studs: Malik Beasley
Beasley had some really clutch shots at the end of regulation and in the first overtime. He played a very “measured” first half.
Then to start the second half Beasley came out gunning. He knocked down a three, was fouled, and almost converted the four-point play.
Beasley ended the game with 21 points.
He was 5-14 from three.
Related: Milwaukee Bucks Player Props
Studs: Doc Rivers
The coaching challenge in the 4th quarter by Rivers was huge. It allowed Milwaukee to be able to gain possession to try to win the game at the end. Rivers did a good job of helping give his team a shot.
The national broadcast cut to some sideline advice Rivers was giving his players. It went something like this: don’t leak out, make sure you secure the rebounds.
That is the type of advice this veteran team seems willing to accept from Rivers.
It really felt like, tonight, the identity of this team got stronger. Yes, you hate to lose. But now these guys know they can play for that long and compete against a good team.
Related: Is there a Doctor in the House?
The Duds: Khris Middleton
Middleton made some key mistakes in the 4th quarter and missed some key shots.
He went 4-15 from the field and ended the game with 12 points. It was great to see him play a ton (39 minutes) but he really looked tired at the end of the game.
For the Bucks to do well in the postseason Middleton is going to have to be more productive.
Dud~ (Not Giannis himself) Giannis’s 4th quarter turnovers
This game should have never gone to overtime. Had Milwaukee just slowed down and kept tempo manageable, they would not have seen the game head to OT.
But 7 big and sloppy turnovers (including 3 in a row in the 4th quarter) really hurt the Bucks. Converting any of those into a score would have made a huge difference.
Other Notes from around the league
- It was a “light” four game Thursday night slate for the NBA. The Warriors just smoked the Heat in Miami.
- Oklahoma City bounced back after losing to the Bucks, beating New Orleans. 119-112.
- Draymond Green and Jrue Holiday made some news today. Holiday felt the Bucks could have given him even more than 24-hrs notice before he was traded. The news surprised him as he was “taking a nap”.
- The Raptors Jontay Porter is in hot water over some possible gambling violations.
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