Jason Gets First Win in Bucks Home Opener

Jason Kidd coached just his second regular-season game in green and red Friday night, but already his young Milwaukee Bucks squad is showing tremendous progress.

Milwaukee looked strong early in Jason’s debut Wednesday night, but they ultimately blew a 24-point lead on the road against Charlotte Hornets. In Coach Kidd’s home opener two nights later, rather than collapsing defensively late, the Bucks locked down, holding the Philadelphia 76ers to just seven points in the fourth quarter of their 93-81 win.

Afterward, Jason was thrilled with the way his team played defensively down the stretch, as they were able to shake off offensive mistakes and still silence the Sixers when it mattered.

“We were in the same situation in Charlotte,” Coach Kidd said. “Being up and being able to get stops defensively. Offensively, we had some shot clock violations, we missed some shots, but that didn’t affect us on the defensive end. When you see a young group be able to respond in the same situation, and understand time and score there is a lot of positive things.”

Much of the hype surrounding Milwaukee this season has been about its young stars Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo—but on this night, it was one of the team’s veterans who led the way.

Guard O.J. Mayo turned in 25 points in 28 minutes, adding five assists and three rebounds. Mayo had a down year last year, his first in Milwaukee, but is already off to a fantastic start after shooting 8-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-7 from three against Philly.

Jason was asked after the game, “What seems to be working out so well with O.J. Mayo?” He responded with some typical dry J-Kidd humor.

“The ball going in the basket,” J-Kidd quipped about Mayo’s strong play of late. “He’s a veteran. Carrying over from preseason, he has been shooting the ball extremely well. His offense has been a highlight for the media, but I think he has been great for us defensively.”

Before Mayo took control for the Bucks, the home crowd at BMO Harris Bradley center was fired up about the debut of No. 2 overall draft pick Jabari Parker, and the young superstar didn’t disappoint. He came through with his first NBA double-double, tallying 11 points and 10 rebounds, including knocking down a three for the game’s first points.

Parker’s triple was backed up by another three from Khris Middleton on the next possession, then Larry Sanders added a short jumper to push the Bucks out to an 8-2 run to start the contest.

The Sixers, who also boast a growing collection of young talent, responded with a run and built a four-point lead in the latter stages of the opening quarter.

“We were a little flat in the beginning. But in a lot of these home openers you’re seeing the home team come out a little flat,” Jason said. “Being a young team, fighting through it and finding a way to grind a win out, in this league that’s what the good teams do. So hopefully we’re going in the right direction.”

In answer to that run, the Bucks came back with one of their own. Mayo started the rally with a steal in the open court. He pushed the ball down in transition and sent a great drop-off pass back to Jabari for a thrilling two-handed jam. A couple of possessions later, Giannis pulled down a rebound and advanced it to Mayo for a three-ball in the corner that fell straight through with 1:19 left. Thosetwo plays in particular were excellent examples of what Mayo can do for the Milwaukee offense.

“Looking at his
[O.J.’s] shots is good, but he is a playmaker,” Kidd said. “The intent is right. Talking about everyone trying to do the right thing and make a play for a teammate offensively. The team really believes in one another, and they believe that if they are open they will get the ball.”

Mayo stayed hot in the second, knocking down two early jumpers, including another trifecta off a feed from Antetokounmpo, though neither team was able to take control before the break, as halftime came with Philly ahead 47-46.

That trend continued in the third, where Mayo hit yet another time from deep, this time off a feed from Jerryd Bayless. However, yet again, neither team could pull away. Philadelphia led by five at one point, but the Bucks were always able to answer back and stay within arm’s length.

After staying close throughout, the Bucks owned the fourth quarter. Mayo kicked off the final frame with a corner three off a feed from Bayless, and Bayless kept it rolling with a dunk on the following possession. Then it was Mayo once again, corralling a loose ball and draining a step-back jumper in isolation to give Milwaukee an 80-74 lead and force a Philly timeout.

The Sixers came out of that timeout strong, going on a quick 7-2 spurt. However, after Hollis Thompson closed that run with a three at the 8:21 mark, the Sixers never scored again.

Shortly after, Sanders nearly tacked a year off Coach Kidd’s lifespan. The Milwaukee big man won a jump ball next to his own basket and dribbled toward the hoop with the intent of slamming it home, but just before the dunk attempt, he realized he was at the wrong basket. Both Jason and Sanders were glad to be able to laugh about it afterward, but J-Kidd’s reaction in real time was priceless.

“I thought it was a great time to get everybody to relax a little bit,” Jason said of Sanders’ near bucket on the wrong goal. “I think he was just playing around, I hope…For a second, everybody believed he was going to go and dunk it. One of my coaches asked if that would have been a paint touch. Yes, we all can laugh at it.”

The Bucks didn’t let that little incident knock them off their rhythm. Point guard Brandon Knight took the reins down the stretch. He notched back-to-back assists to Mayo for three, and Larry Sanders for a big-time dunk gave Milwaukee a 90-81 lead. He also knocked down the dagger himself, a long three from up top off a dish by Mayo.

In addition to putting the finishing touches on the win, Knight stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals that both came in the fourth quarter. The Milwaukee point guard showed once again why he is one of the leaders of this young team. The Kentucky product displayed his ability to not only score for himself and involve teammates offensively, but to also create problems defensively.

Sanders, even through the near heart attack-inducing own goal, was once again an anchor defensively. The 6-11 center turned in just eight points, but pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds and added two steals and four blocks. Reserve center John Henson followed suit, chipping in six points, seven boards, two steals and a game-high six blocks.

“He’s accepted that defensive role, being our anchor,” Jason said of Sanders. “He changed a lot of shots and came up with some big blocks, but also giving us second and third opportunities on the offensive end, too.”

As a team, the Bucks finished with 11 blocks and 10 steals and held a 55-42 rebounding advantage. As J-Kidd attested after the game, that outstanding defensive effort more than made up for his team’s 41 percent shooting night.

“We are going to hang our hat on the defensive end,” J-Kidd said. “We are going to give ourselves a chance to win games that are sometimes called ugly. They aren’t always going to be perfect, but the guys didn’t let the offensive end affect their defense tonight.”

All preseason Coach Kidd has been preaching that the Bucks success can only be found through a collective effort—and this game was the epitome of that. Milwaukee rotated through 12 players, and five Bucks turned in 10 or more minutes off the bench, many of those bringing key defensive effort in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks reserves outscored the Sixers bench 45-27. Jason loved what he saw out of his second unit Wednesday night and will undoubtedly take advantage of that luxury of being able to reach deep into the bench at any moment.

“I’m not afraid to play everybody,” Jason said. “In that locker room anyone can play at any time. In this league that’s all you can ask for, is to be given time to show that you can play—everybody did that tonight.”