The now (35-21) Milwaukee Bucks lost to the now (20-36) Memphis Grizzlies Thursday Night on the road at the FedExForum (113-110). It was one of the better “passing games” the Bucks have had in a while. Yet their good teamwork simply wasn’t enough. The “veteran” 4th quarter comeback fell short.
Memphis won last night against the Rockets at home (121-113). They played with amazing energy for having been on a back-to-back.
Memphis, to start the 3rd quarter, was 11/11 from the field. They just couldn’t miss!
The Bucks were 42-90 (46.7%) from the field. They ended the game with 44 team rebounds.
The Bucks scored 25 points in the 4th quarter. Memphis led by 9 going into the 4th (94-85). The Bucks were able to hold the Grizzlies to 19 points in the 4th. It just wasn’t enough.
Milwaukee is now on its all-star break. The team will play again in eight days, next Friday, on 2/23/24. Milwaukee will take on the Timberwolves. The Bucks are two games behind Cleveland for the Central Division crown. Milwaukee is currently the #3 seed in the East.
If the NBA playoffs started tomorrow the Bucks would face off against the #6 seed Indiana Pacers.
Related: Giannis vs Ja: “Giannis Pastoral”
Here are the studs in the tough loss
Studs
Damian Lillard
Lillard ended the game with 24 points. He missed a couple of tough shots in the 4th that seemed on-par with other performances in the 1st half of the 2023-2024 NBA season.
Lillard has taken a lot of heat from fans for some up-and-down performances. I guess I just don’t see it. He is a clutch scorer who is transitioning from being “the man” to a complementary player to perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Lillard gives the Bucks, and the franchise really, something it hasn’t had since Ray Allen: a true outside/inside scoring threat.
I can’t wait to see how well Lillard plays after the all-star game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
What a great passing game for Giannis.
With 12 assists Giannis seemed to be able to find an open Bobby Portis under the hoop like seven times.
Giannis led all scorers with 35 points. He’ll be an all-star game captain on Sunday.
AJ Green
Good for AJ Green. Green is starting to really get some rotation minutes.
Green played 14 minutes and had 6 points. He played some strong defense and seemed to be one of the first players head coach Doc Rivers called upon off the bench.
Related: Bucks beat Denver
The Lone Dud: Pat Beverly
The newly acquired Buck just didn’t have a great game. He was 0-4 from the field, 0-4 from 3, and did manage 4 rebounds. However, he played 14 minutes and just did not seem to bring “the juice” like he had in games against Denver and Charlotte.
Don’t get me wrong, we are still glad Milwaukee has him.
This game just did not seem like the game fans, or the team, wants out of him. He needs to score more than one point.
Other Notes from around the league
- There were only three games on tonight’s slate. The Bucks/Grizzlies game was the only nationally televised game.
- The NBA all-star game is this Sunday at 7pm CST. Coverage is on TNT.
- Steve Kerr benched Klay Thompson tonight against the Jazz. Thompson was replaced by former Greenfield, Wisconsin native Brandin Podziemski. Podziemski played his high school ball out of St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield.
- The NBA regular season kicks back up into gear on Thursday, Feb. 22. Again, the Bucks play Friday, Feb. 23rd against Minnesota. Keep your eyes here for more Bucks info. And check out our partner site www.hardwoodheroics.com
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