SAN ANTONIO – The Milwaukee Bucks completed their first Western Convention street journey of the season with a 1-3 mark after dropping 144-118 to the San Antonio Spurs on the Frost Financial institution Middle on Friday night time.
The Bucks sandwiched a win in Utah between losses to the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Path Blazers. They now head dwelling briefly for a Sunday night time recreation in opposition to Memphis earlier than going again on the street for per week. After the sport, Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard acknowledged that lacking Bobby Portis Jr. for all 4 video games and AJ Inexperienced for 3 stretched the crew skinny, however they nonetheless had been in place to have higher outcomes.
“No matter what occurs, we bought a superb crew and we now have a possibility to nonetheless win these video games,” Lillard stated. “Clipper recreation, we bought a fourth quarter and we simply crumble, not doing the issues we talked about doing. In Portland we come out, I feel we went into the half with that lead as properly after which we let it slip. Even in Utah, we go into the fourth up 20 figuring out we bought a back-to-back and we find yourself taking part in a tough fourth quarter.
“Though it was a double-digit lead we allowed it to change into a harmful recreation and now we going right into a back-to-back with a recreation we should always’ve been completed with on the finish of the third. However we simply gotta be higher about all these issues. The video games we misplaced we nonetheless may have received as we’re.
“However, the margin for error is way smaller with out AJ taking part in each recreation and clearly with out us having Bobby. So we gotta pay attention to that and we gotta do what we gotta do at a excessive stage and extra constant. We ain’t do this. So, like I stated, you clearly take these issues into consideration but it surely’s not an excuse for us not to have the ability to end the video games and win the video games as a result of we had been in place to do it.”
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The Bucks (26-20) had hoped to reap the benefits of a struggling Spurs (21-24) crew that had misplaced eight of their final 10, however as a substitute they bumped into an aggressive, hot-shooting youthful crew that outscored the Bucks 74-47 within the second half.
However for the Bucks, the seeds for the loss had been sown within the first half in permitting 35 factors in every of the primary two quarters.
“We had been simply terrible throughout. Interval,” Rivers stated. “We gave up 17 factors the primary 4 minutes of the sport. To me, that set the tone. Not that quarter. After they went into halftime, they felt nice. And, , pay attention. We gotta do a greater job. I gotta do a greater job, all of us. We’ve been an incredible defensive crew the final (few months). Three out of 4 nights on this journey we now have not been. And so, we gotta take a look at the movie and determine it out.”
Lillard and Antetokounmpo agreed, echoing their head coach postgame.
“Though we had the lead, once you’re on one other crew’s ground and also you allow them to get comfy – they got here out making threes – there was power within the constructing instantly,” Lillard stated. “And so they had their confidence going.”
BOX SCORE:Spurs 144, Bucks 118
Milwaukee was led by its Huge Three of Antetokounmpo (35 factors, 14 rebounds, 6 assists), Lillard (22 factors, 7 assists) and Khris Middleton (21 factors) however Taurean Prince was the one different participant to succeed in double figures in scoring (13).
San Antonio had a extra balanced effort behind Victor Wembanyama (30 factors, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks), Keldon Johnson (24 factors), Stephon Fort (20 factors, 8 rebounds, 6 assists), Harrison Barnes (16 factors), Devin Vassell (12) and Chris Paul (12).
“We gotta be higher. We gotta be higher,” Antetokounmpo stated. “They had been scoring in any means they wished. Transition, we all know they are a crew that need to shoot threes, we gave them that. Offensive rebounds, second-chance factors, we gave them that. What else? It was simply straightforward. Every little thing was straightforward for them. Every little thing. We simply gotta be higher. 100 and fifty factors, no excuse. Everyone gotta take a look at themselves within the mirror and are available subsequent recreation and do higher. That is just about it.”
Third quarter turns recreation on Bucks
Milwaukee and San Antonio performed 24 minutes of bodily, enjoyable, back-and-forth basketball and the Bucks took a 71-70 lead into the break. However within the third quarter, a rush of three-point baskets by the Spurs – a surge fueled by a prayerful pair by Wembanyama – buried the Bucks.
The Spurs opened the quarter by making their first 3 three-pointers, however they led simply 81-79 earlier than the Bucks turned it over on a blown inbound play that noticed an off-balance Lillard attempt to hit Brook Lopez close to halfcourt. The ball was stolen and ultimately made its option to Wembanyama, who pulled up from about 28 toes with nobody round him. Because the ball traveled to the rim, he leaned in hope, and as soon as it splashed by he pumped his fist and the Bucks referred to as timeout down 84-79.
Milwaukee minimize the deficit to 3 when Wembanyama bought away with a halfcourt violation – practically half of his dimension 20 ½ proper foot was on the road – and he heaved up a 29-footer over Antetokounmpo that rattled across the rim and off the backboard and in for a 91-85 lead.
The Spurs then completed the quarter outscoring the Bucks 24-16 to construct as a lot as a 16-point lead.
“They made every thing,” Rivers stated. “However – Wembanyama made a loopy shot, he did go backcourt – however the different ones had been off of dribble penetration. That’s the way you hand over threes. So, you need to get beat off the dribble and our man has to assist after which they swing it to a man after which we don’t rotate. So our shell ‘D’ broke down tonight and there’s little question about that.”
In whole, San Antonio exploded for 45 factors – essentially the most by a Milwaukee opponent in a 3rd quarter this season – due to a 7-for-13 exhibiting from behind the three-point line. The Spurs had been additionally 8 for 9 from the free throw line within the body.
On the opposite finish the Bucks struggled to maintain tempo as they had been simply 3 for 10 from behind the three-point line.
Spurs got here into recreation with bodily mindset
San Antonio performed the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night time, and Wembanyama practically hit a breaking level after 7-foot, 240-pound Clippers heart Ivica Zubac gave the Spurs’ massive man a shove within the again that that despatched him sliding onto the baseline.
Wembanyama bought up and began to cost at Zubac earlier than being restrained by his teammates, and after the sport the Spurs publicly voiced their considerations over how their new all-star was being handled by opponents and officiated.
Performing head coach Mitch Johnson: “Not to enter element, however he will get numerous contact and in some unspecified time in the future he’ll should proceed to guard himself if different individuals or the individuals controlling the sport supposedly will not be going to try this.”
Ahead Jeremy Sochan, by way of the San Antonio Categorical-Information: “He’s gonna wrestle with that for the subsequent 20 years, ? Everybody’s gonna go at him. … However right here and there, , he has to point out everybody that that could be a (expletive) foul, and also you higher cool it.”
Wembanyama: “So it is a exhausting factor to combat, as a result of it feels unfair typically. However after all, we discuss it with the workers and there’s some stuff I’ve to do to assist myself. To begin with, being robust and never bailing out photographs, but in addition there’s some work to do. Speaking to the refs, after all, explaining myself. However for me, it does not really feel prefer it’s one thing I ought to affect. I am a basketball participant, I am right here to play, and yeah, because of this it is irritating. It isn’t my job to do politics.”
As for a way San Antonio may react to such points, Spurs level guard Chris Paul saved it easy.
“We have to, all of us, must be a little bit bit extra aggressive,” he stated. “I feel we talked in regards to the prime 5 defenses within the league, or one thing like that, lead the league in fouls. We gotta determine be extra aggressive.”
Welcome, Milwaukee.
The Bucks got here into Friday with the league’s sixth-best defensive ranking (factors allowed per 100 possessions) and the seventh-best scoring protection within the league since Nov. 12, which has catapulted them No. 8 general within the league in defensive ranking.
They’ve completed that by leaning into their dimension and taking part in a bodily model of basketball, notably round 7-1, 280-pound heart Brook Lopez and 7-foot, 250-pound ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“We’re what we’re,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers stated after listening to in regards to the Spurs’ mindset. “It’s not gonna change us. I all the time make the remark, and I’ll say it now, in 2008 I feel it was 2-2 within the (NBA Finals), or no matter, and I heard the Lakers saying they need to beat us up and I’m like oh, we simply received the collection. As a result of that’s who we’re. We’re gonna be who we’re. So yeah, we’re good with that.
“Now, if that they had stated we’re gonna begin working extra then we’d be like ‘oh my goodness, that’s a troublesome one!’ Everybody needs to be extra bodily. That’s the way you react. I’m positive they’ll be extra bodily. And that’s tremendous. And if they’re, I don’t assume that impacts us.”
Earlier than the sport, nevertheless, Rivers acknowledged the Spurs’ declarations may affect how the sport can be officiated. And after the sport, Giannis Antetokounmpo stated his crew had no physicality.
“I would be aggressive too if I used to be taking part in in opposition to myself,” Antetokounmpo stated flatly. “If I used to be taking part in in opposition to (us) I would be aggressive too. There is not any physicality in any way. Nothing. There was miscommunications, second-chance factors, straight line drives. There was a play that someone dribble 4, 5 occasions and once they bought a dunk no person fouled him, no person stopped him. I would be aggressive, too. We’ve got to be higher. I do not know what else to say. Each video games (in opposition to Portland on Wednesday) defensively we wasn’t good. Each video games. Each video games.”
San Antonio was positively aggressive defensively, with seemingly all the lineup difficult each Bucks try on the rim. In addition they had been hard-charging on offense, driving into the enamel of the Bucks protection.
Bucks guard AJ Inexperienced returns from damage
Inexperienced, one of many league’s premier three-point shooters, returned to motion for the primary time since Jan. 17 after struggling a strained left quadricep in that recreation in opposition to Toronto. The 25-year-old missed 5 video games, the longest stretch he needed to sit out as a result of damage in his three-year profession.
Inexperienced performed 18 minutes and was 0-for-2 from behind the three-point line and 0-for-3 general.
He entered the sport in opposition to the Spurs taking pictures 44.2% from deep.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Chris Paul get heated late within the recreation
With the Bucks trailing 131-111 with 3 minutes, 46 minutes remaining within the recreation, Giannis Antetokounmpo drove to the basket and Spurs level guard Chris Paul was referred to as for a private foul as he tripped Antetokounmpo on his option to the basket. Antetokounmpo took exception to the play, resulting in a heated trade between the Bucks’ Gary Trent Jr. and the Spurs’ Jeremy Sochan, and a sizzling Antetokounmpo voicing his displeasure on the play.
Safety and coaches from every crew shortly intervened to forestall any escalation, and the referees did overview it to find out if Paul deliberately slid his toes beneath Antetokounmpo. However after a comparatively fast look it was decided to be a standard foul. On the Bucks bench, Antetokounmpo was clearly upset and when he walked again onto the court docket he instantly went to say one thing to Paul in regards to the play and once more the gamers needed to be separated.
Through the break in play every crew subbed out of the regulars on the ground – aside from Antetokounmpo and Paul. The Bucks’ star made 1 of two after which the pair had been taken out.
After the buzzer, Antetokounmpo walked to heart court docket and stared down Paul, who remained on the Spurs finish of the ground. Neither participant moved for fairly a while, with Bucks assistant coach Vin Baker waving Paul to go away the court docket. Pat Connaughton and Bucks safety stood in entrance of Antetokounmpo as Paul waited to be interviewed by Spurs tv. Ultimately, Antetokounmpo left the ground.
5 numbers
13: Video games left wherein level guard Ryan Rollins could be energetic after Friday’s recreation. The Bucks have 36 regular-season video games remaining. Rollins is a two-way participant, and gamers signed to these offers can solely be energetic for 50 video games in a season – however head coach Doc Rivers stated there’s a likelihood the crew makes a roster transfer to completely assure Rollins’ deal for the remainder of the season.
18: Consecutive double-doubles for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the third-longest streak in his profession. He had 19 in a row in 2019 and a career-high 20 straight in 2020.
43: Rank all-time in assists for Damian Lillard, who handed former Bucks level guard Sam Cassell (No. 43, 5,939) in handing out X assists in opposition to the Spurs. Lillard now has 5,943.
79: Consecutive video games Victor Wembanyama has recorded at the very least one blocked shot.
9-13: Bucks street report. They haven’t been .500 this season since beginning the yr 1-1 on Oct. 27. They had been 18-22 on the street final season. From 2018-23 they had been the most effective groups on the street within the NBA, compiling a 123-74 (62.4%) report away from Fiserv Discussion board.
Victor Wembanyama makes first all-star crew
Friday night time’s recreation is the third between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama, maybe the 2 most extraordinary, physically-gifted gamers within the NBA. The 7-foot Antetokounmpo has led the Bucks to 2 victories over the Spurs and the formally listed 7-3 Wembanyama (although he seems nearer to 7-5).
Wembanyama comes into the competition averaging 24.4 factors, 10.8 rebounds and three.9 blocks per recreation and he was voted onto his first all-star crew by the coaches as a Western Convention reserve. Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.7 factors, 12.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists and was voted into his ninth straight all-star recreation as a starter.
Extra:The place do the Milwaukee Bucks stand one week from the NBA commerce deadline?
Is Giannis taking part in?
Sure. Although he has been managing ache in his proper knee all season lengthy, Antetokounmpo has but to overlook a recreation with the problem.
Damian Lillard added to damage report
The morning after being named to his second straight all-star crew as a member of the Bucks, level guard Damian Lillard was added to the crew’s damage report with soreness in his left groin. He was at Milwaukee’s observe on Thursday and shootaround Friday morning.
Earlier than the sport the Bucks stated Lillard was out there to play.
He has not missed a recreation since sitting out 4 straight from Dec. 20-26 with a calf pressure and sickness.
Bucks beginning lineup
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Andre Jackson Jr.
- Forwards: Taurean Prince, Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Middle: Brook Lopez
What channel are the Bucks on?
This recreation will not be on nationwide TV, so it will likely be simulcast regionally on FanDuel Sports activities Community and Wisconsin/WMLW The M with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the decision.
What time is the Bucks recreation?
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
Bucks damage report
- Bobby Portis Jr., out (private causes)
- AJ Inexperienced, out there (left quad pressure)
- Damian Lillard, out there (left groin soreness)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, out there (proper patella tendinopathy)
- Khris Middleton, out there (bilateral ankle surgical procedure damage administration)
Bucks vs. Spurs odds, over/beneath
Milwaukee is a 2.5-point favourite over San Antonio and the over/beneath is 233.5 for the sport, per BetMGM.