In search of a play down the stretch, Jason Kidd’s Milwaukee Bucks turned to Khris Middleton and Greg Monroe to shut the door on the Philadelphia 76ers.
The two Bucks, who were introduced together during free agency signings this offseason, combined for 11 points, two assists, a rebound and a big steal to turn a three-point deficit into a four-point, 91-87 win in the final three minutes. Middleton hit three times from beyond the arc on the night and had a team-high 21 points. Monroe neared a double-double at 18 points, eight boards, four assists and three steals—and Jason was happy to see his team perform well in the clutch.
“We understand that we were in this situation in Brooklyn, where we’ve had a lead and we’ve given up a lead—and guys stayed together,” Coach Kidd told he media. We made some plays down the stretch on the defensive end, and then on the offensive end we took our time. The two guys who delivered tonight—Moose and Khris—we played through them. The ball was moving better in that fourth quarter and we got Khris backdoor for a layup. And then on the other end, we got the rebounds when we needed to or we got a steal. So tonight was a good win for us.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the third Buck starter in double figures. The Greek star pulled down a key rebound in that closing stretch and filled the stat sheet with with 17 points, five boards, three assists, a steal and a block through the night. The game also marked the return of 2014 No. 2 overall draft pick Jabari Parker.
It was Parker’s first appearance since tearing his ACL just 25 games into the 2014-15 season. He was inserted into the starting lineup and was eased into action. Most of his work came in the first quarter, where he logged five minutes and had two points and three rebounds. Jason said the star second-year player looked good and was glad to be back
“For Jabari, I thought it was a positive experience. He didn’t make every shot, I think we all didn’t expect him to make every shot,” Jason told reporters. “He had good looks. But, just to be back on the floor, to put the jersey back on, and now we’ll see how he feels, and hopefully we can continue to keep adding minutes.”
“He had some rust. This is game time, it’s a lot different. As much as we try to simulate in practice – game – you know the atmosphere is different, the lights are a little bit brighter and he had good looks, he didn’t force any shots. Looks that he normally makes and I think the energy – I’m not saying he was nervous but just excited to be back. And once those emotions kind of come down, he will be able to, I think make those shots that he took.”
Johnny O’Bryant checked in for him at the 5:19 mark, but it was Middleton and Monroe who heated up early. The two combined for 19 points to help push the Bucks out to a 29-21 lead. With that duo resting in the second quarter, the reserve unit had trouble establishing an offensive rhythm. Strong defense kept Milwaukee at a two-point, 47-45 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, Antetokounmpo took his turn. The versatile Greek national went 3-of-4 from the field for eight points. Parker fed him for a corner three and a driving transition dunk early in the third. He closed the quarter with a steal and driving layup that ended in a conventional three-point play to put the Bucks up one with 1.4 seconds left on the clock.
Jason was excited to see Giannis lead the second unit successfully, and he also talked about the state of his rotation going forward.
“We would like to split Giannis and Khris as much as we can,” Jason explained. “We’d like to start them, but we’d also like to see Giannis with the second group. Somewhere along the road we’ll see Khris with the second group. Khris and Giannis have logged big minutes early on but hopefully we’ll get healthy here over the weekend, and we can get guys out on the floor and kind of get into a routine.”
To start the fourth, the Bucks got exactly what they lacked early in the game: production and leadership off the bench. Reserve guard Greivis Vasquez filled the hole left by starting point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who was sidelined with a strained left ankle. Vasquez buried a three to open the quarter and put the Bucks up four. The draft-day trade coup from the Toronto Raptors had five points and three assists in the fourth, including the dish on Middleton’s key three with 48.4 seconds to go.
“That’s what I expect from myself,” Vasquez told reporters. “I can’t guarantee that I’m going to be there all the time but I’m going to earn that by playing hard and doing the right things. I believe man, I really believe. I’m the type of guy that might not be the fastest or the most athletic but I don’t think anybody is going to out work us or me. Our team has to be all about that. Playing with a sense of urgency, understanding that we’re underdogs and we haven’t done anything. But we care. We want to represent this city, want to represent this franchise and we want to make a statement in this league. So, we got to go step-by-step, one day at a time and tomorrow is a new day for us.”
The new Milwaukee guard scored 11 points in 22 minutes of work and finished the contest with a plus-20 scoring advantage. With Vasquez at the helm, the ball found Middleton, who posted up his defender before finding center Greg Monroe to lay it in and put Milwaukee up 86-85. Then with 48.4 seconds to go, the crisp ball movement continued, and the wheel stopped at Middleton on the left wing, who buried a trifecta to take an 89-85 advantage.
Philly kept fighting with a key bucket from rookie Jahlil Okafor. The No. 3 overall draft pick continued the impressive start to his career tallying 21 for his fourth 20-point performance in four games. Although the Sixers (0-4) are winless thus far, Jason knew head coach Brett Brown’s crew wouldn’t go down without a fight.
“Coach Brett is going to have those guys playing hard,” Jason said. “They’ve been in some games. The ball just hasn’t gone their way. But they have some talented players who play hard. This game could’ve gone either way. We were very fortunate to get some stops and get some baskets on the other end.”
NEXT UP
Milwaukee (2-3) will travel to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks on Friday. Jason will match up against another point-guard-turned-coach, Derek Fisher.
The Carmelo Anthony-led Knicks are also at 2-3 and are coming off consecutive solid performances, albeit in losses to the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Bucks have an opportunity to exact revenge for an opening-night defeat to the Knicks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Carter-Williams, Monroe and Vasquez combined for 60 points, but the Bucks struggled otherwise without Antetokounmpo and fell 122-97.
The rematch is set for a 6:30 p.m. CT tipoff and will air on FOX Sports Wisconsin.
