It was an all-around terrific team performance that helped Jason Kidd’s Milwaukee Bucks secure a 125-107 victory Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers.
Milwaukee had 11 different guys score, five of which ended the game in double figures.
“Everybody was great. You guys ask a question about one player, but everybody was great,” head coach Jason Kidd said. “Everybody that participated did their job and stayed in character. It was a great team win against a very talented team.”
Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the only two Bucks players J-Kidd decided to play more than 30 minutes, and they rewarded him with monster performances.
THE DYNAMIC DUO
Parker finished the game with 27 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while adding four threes on six attempts.
“So you look at what Jabari did, catch and shoot, making plays for teammates, and so that’s his game, he has the total package,” Kidd said. “We all look at him as a scorer, but he can find the open guys and he did a really good job tonight.”
Antetokounmpo also had 27 points, while adding nine assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. In particular, Coach Kidd was pleased with the way Giannis and Jabari went right at one of the NBA’s best two-way players in Indiana’s Paul George.
“I think as young players, and as a young team, we always want (Parker and Antetokounmpo) to be aggressive no matter who you’re playing against,” Jason said. “But when you have a player like George, your antennas have to be up, him being one of the best players in the league, and those two know that, so you could see that right off the bat they were ready.”
MOOSE AND MALCOLM BOOST BENCH
Greg Monroe and Malcolm Brogdon were terrific for Kidd coming off the bench.
Brogdon was a big piece for Coach Kidd’s second unit, finishing the game with 12 points, five assists and three steals.
“I think for a rookie, we’re very pleased. He wants to get better. Each day he comes in and asks questions watches video,” Jason said. “He’s never satisfied, and I think the guys that he plays with trust him.
Monroe finished the game with a double-double of 16 points and 16 rebounds, while also adding six dimes.
YOUNG BUCKS KEEP COMPOSURE
At one point in the third quarter, the Bucks had stacked their lead to as high as 17 points, but a strong run in the fourth quarter helped Indiana trim the lead to seven with just 4:11 remaining.
“First of all basketball is about a game of runs. We made a run, they made a run, we made a run. It’s who makes the run last, who makes the stand last,” Jason said. “New Orleans was no different, we lost the lead in the third quarter, but we kept playing. And again tonight they make a run, no one loses composure, we go out there and execute.”
The Pacers came no closer than that, however, a coming-of-age moment for the young team. And although the Bucks allowed 107 points, Jason is seeing his team make strides on the defensive end.
“I think the one thing; we feel we’re getting better,” Jason said of Milwaukee’s defense. “We know we haven’t played our best defensive game yet, but as a whole, we’re getting better stretches where we can go three or four minutes of holding a team scoreless, and so hopefully we can build on that.”
NEXT UP
Jason and the Bucks have the Sacramento Kings up next on Saturday night. The Kings so far this season have struggled on the offensive end, so it will be a good test to see how far Kidd’s group has come.
“This is a new group,” Jason said. “As much as we talk about some of the core players still being here, we have some new pieces that guys are trying to get used to.”
The Bucks will host the Kings at 7 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on FOX Sports Wisconsin.
