Bucks Split Back-to-Back

The streaking Milwaukee Bucks hit a speed bump on Friday in Houston, but Coach Jason Kidd’s resilient bunch bounced right back on Saturday night at home to start a new streak in dramatic fashion.

Coach Kidd had the Bucks playing some of their best basketball entering the weekend back-to-back riding a season-high five-game winning streak, and they started the weekend off with a strong performance on the road in Houston, putting themselves in a position to win the game late. Unfortunately, Milwaukee came up just short in a 117-111 defeat that snapped their streak.

However it did not take the Bucks longs to regroup and on Saturday night at home, again in position to win a game late, they succeeded where they had failed in Houston and came up with a 96-93 victory over the Celtics.

“We found a way to execute late,” Jason explained after Saturday night’s home victory over Boston. “It was kind of a carryover from
[Friday] night, where we executed, we got stops, we just couldn’t get the scores to put us back in the game. I thought fatigue might be a factor, but the guys grinded one out and found a way to protect home and get a win.”

GIANNIS BIG IN LOSS

A large part of Milwaukee’s recent rise has been the play of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who after a year-and-a-half of flashing greatness has begun to consistency string together phenomenal performances.

After Antetokounmpo tallied a then-career-high 25 points in Wednesday night’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Coach Kidd was quick to remark that the mark wouldn’t last long at the top of the list. Sure enough, just hours later, The Greek Freak was quick to prove his coach correct.

Antetokounmpo went off for a new career-high 27 points on Friday in Houston, where he also grabbed 15 rebounds dished out four assists and recorded a block. After watching his budding second-year star scorch the Rockets to the tune of 11-of-16 from the floor, Jason explained the how unique qualities Antetokounmpo brings to the table.

“When you look at Giannis, he’s able to put the ball on the floor and find his teammates,” J-Kidd said. “Also you can see the last two weeks he’s grown as a player and as a person. He’s playing at a very high level on both ends.”

Unfortunately, the big night for Giannis came in a losing effort, because on the other end, Houston All-Star guard James Harden matched every bucket and then some. Harden scorched the Bucks for 33 points on a very efficient 9-of-14 shooting from the field and a 12-of-17 performance from the charity stripe.

Milwaukee played well, shot 50.5 percent from the field, had six players in double-figures and had 29 assists, but it was just too much firepower from Houston who made 15 three-pointers, including six from Trevor Ariza, who finished with 24 points. Josh Smith hit another four, and he nearly had a triple-double, coming off the bench to contribute 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

The Bucks trailed, 60-42, late in the second quarter but closed within 68-56 at halftime.
Harden has averaged 33.5 points in two games against the Bucks this season despite seeing double-teams most of the times he touched the ball.

“We did everything we could,” Kidd said. “We threw multiple bodies (at him) and gave him different looks. He’s just patient; he takes what the defense gives him.”

The Bucks cut an 18-point deficit to just three inside the final four minutes. They also came up with several key defensive stops late, but they couldn’t reciprocate on the other end, where they missed a pair of crucial three-point opportunities.

“We had two good looks with threes that we came up short on,” Coach Kidd said. “I like the effort. We were small; they were small and they got the bounces.”

Shots by Khris Middleton and Brandon Knight did not go down and the Rockets were able to close out their sixth victory in the last seven games. Middleton scored 10, and Knight scored 12.

“They made threes; that’s what they do,” Jason said of the Rockets. “I think our guys fought and found a way to make a game of it.”

Milwaukee also had three guards in double figures off the bench. Jorge Gutierrez and Jerryd Bayless each went for 13, while O.J. Mayo added 11.

Harden, however, was the difference. The MVP candidate was aggressive as ever, getting easy ones at the free throw line and making shots easier for his teammates.

“He can shoot it,” J-Kidd said of Harden. He can get to the free-throw line and he can finish. He’s strong and he knows how to play.”

B-KNIGHT HEROICS

Just 24 hours later, the Bucks made the long trek back home to host the Celtics—but rather than fold late on the second night of a back-to-back, they came through with a marvelous late victory.

Brandon Knight scored a game-high 26 points at home against the Celtics, and though just two of those points came in the fourth quarter, they couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

With less than 10 seconds left and Milwaukee clinging on to a 1-point lead, Knight waived everyone away for isolation against Brandon Bass. Bass had no chance; left on an island with Knight, BK hit the Celtics’ big man with a combination of crossovers that led to an eventual step back and high-arcing shot that fell straight through the net with 6.7 seconds left to extend the lead to three.

“He was great for us all night,” Coach Kidd said of B-Knight. “He had a lot of energy. He was finding open guys and on top of that he was finding shots early and then the big one there in the fourth quarter. That definitely was a big shot and you see he had a lot of confidence.”

Along with Knight’s performance, Antetokounmpo added 14 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double in the last five games. In that span, the 20-year-old is averaging 17.6 points and 10.8 rebounds, while shooting 63 percent from the field.

The third quarter saw Milwaukee up by as many as 14, but Boston made a run, which cut the lead to just one 92-91 with just over three minutes remaining in the game after Jared Sullinger, who finished with 17 points, split two free throws.

Down the stretch, Coach Kidd called a timeout to draw up something for the final shot.

“We wanted him to make the decision between him or Giannis,” Jason said of the Bucks’ final play.

Bass switched out on the pick-and-roll, Knight simply dragged Bass out into space and exploited the mismatch.

“If they were going to switch it, he has his choice. If he’s going downhill and doesn’t like it, he can throw it back to Giannis,” J-Kidd said. “But in this case he kept the ball, forced Bass left and pulled up for a nice jump shot.”

Outside of Knight, Milwaukee scored largely by committee. Knight and Antetokounmpo were joined in double figures by Middleton (11) and Mayo (10). John Henson had nine and Jared Dudley added eight from the starting lineup, while Bayless and Ersan Ilyasova each turned in nine off the bench.

With no Zaza Pachulia, no Kenyon Martin and no Johnny O’Bryant, the Bucks were short-handed, but they still scratched and clawed their way to victory—anything to survive.

“We’re surviving,” Jason said. “We’re playing with the guys that we have. We’re not complaining, but guys are tired. Guys are fighting and grinding and trusting one another. If you play as a team you can survive some of these games and find yourself winning.”

NEXT UP

The Bucks (28-23) will be hosting the Brooklyn Nets (21-29) Monday night at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

The Nets have won three out of their last four including quality wins over the Clippers and Raptors, though they’ll enter the game coming off a rough 114-77 loss to the Washington Wizards.

First time these two met was on Nov. 19 when Milwaukee squeaked out a 122-118 overtime win at the Barclay’s Center.

Tip off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.