At the end of a fierce fight loss to the Boston CelticsThe Milwaukee Bucks return home to face the Brooklyn Nets.
Although Khris Middleton is out of the lineup, Giannis Antetokounmpo was deemed available after missing the previous two with a hamstring issue.
It was an incredibly eventful game, as the Bucks went up by 20 just before halftime and were on their way to certain victory, it seemed. However, not only did the Nets fight back, but they also took the lead midway through the fourth. Yet the home team kept their cool and fought back, taking the lead and not letting go.
When the final horn sounded, the Milwaukee Bucks left the court 115-108 winners.
Since Doc Rivers took over as coach, second-year guard AJ Green has seen a more consistent role, and a play like this shows why that’s a wise move. In just one tick in less than 14 minutes, Green finished with 15 points off the bench thanks to five 3-pointers. The guard is certainly not shy about shooting the long ball, and the Bucks are reaping the benefits.
Green has earned his stripes in this rotation not only with his shooting, but also with his improved defensive play and constant hustle. It should be a key cog throughout the stretch for Milwaukee.
The youngster wasn’t the only guard making triples, as Damian Lillard joined him with five threes of his own. Lillard, finding his rhythm at the perfect time, finished with 30 points, 12 assists and two steals to lead the Bucks, showing off his offensive arsenal by attacking inside the arc while unleashing logo-like shots in the clip below.
LILLARD LET IT FLY FROM THE LOGO. pic.twitter.com/LrJ896v6jU
– Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 22, 2024
Lillard’s defense should also be highlighted, as he held Brooklyn Nets players to Shooting 5 out of 14 (35.7 percent) while forcing four turnovers and grabbing two steals, according to NBA.com. He’s certainly not an All-Defensive type, but when he’s active he can make a huge impact.
Upon his return, Giannis Antetokounmpo looked a little rusty, and understandably so, but he still scored 21 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots. The Greek Freak should shake off this rust as he plays, and hopefully this hamstring issue doesn’t persist.
Meanwhile, after struggling so mightily against the Boston Celtics, it was nice to see Brook Lopez bounce back, tallying 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-5 from deep. His scoring can be an X-factor for this Milwaukee team when he’s this effective. On that same note, Malik Beasley added his own share to the pot, as he had 16 points, most of which surprisingly came from inside the arc.
On the other side of the ball, the Nets had three scorers top 20 points, with Mikal Bridges leading the way with 24. Yet their entire bench only scored 19 points, and Green’s intense effort almost fought this on his own.
This is a great victory for the Bucks, who are still looking for consistency in the lineup, since the Big 3 have not shared the court together since February 3. They still have another piece of equipment to find.
Stay tuned for more analysis on the Milwaukee Bucks.
