Giannis Antetokounmpo

Bucks face playoff elimination after game 5 loss in Boston

April 25, 2018 By Bill Scott

The Milwaukee Bucks return to the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Thursday night facing a must win in game six of their opening round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

Boston jumped out to an early lead and stayed their, pulling out a 92-87 win over the Bucks at TD Garden. The Celtics took a 3-2 lead in the series as each team has held serve on its home court. The Bucks are hoping to do the same on Thursday.

The Bucks problem was their cold shooting. They hit just 36.8% of their shots (32 of 87) from the field for the game and made just 27.3% of their three-pointers (9 of 33).

Khris Middleton scored 23 points to lead the Bucks, but Giannis Antetokounmpo took just 10 shots and was held to 16 points.

Jabari Parker added 17 points off the bench and Eric Bledsoe finished with 16 points (5 of 15 FG).

The Bucks made several runs in the second half to draw close, only to see the Celtics have an answer.

Al Horford led Boston with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Terry Rozier added 16 points and Jaylen Brown had 14. Boston also saw the return of Marcus Smart to their lineup. He had nine points, three blocks and a steal in his return.

Seldom used Shabazz Muhammad had 11 points in a four-minute spurt for the Bucks, but they got little from their remaining reserves. Thon Maker, Tony Snell and Matthew Dellavedova combined to score just two points on 1 of 12 shooting.

Bucks even series with Celtics (AUDIO)

April 23, 2018 By Bill Scott

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s tip-in with 5.1 seconds left, gave the Milwaukee Bucks a 104-102 win over the Celtics on Sunday afternoon at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The victory means the Bucks will play at least one more game at the Bradley Center with game six on Thursday night. Game five is Tuesday night in Boston.

The Celtics had a chance to tie or win it, but Marcus Morris shot was just off the mark as time expired, giving the Bucks their second straight win in the series.

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 27 points on 12-of-20 shooting. Khris Middleton added 23 and Jabari Parker came off the bench to score 16 points.

The Bucks led 51-35 at halftime and saw that advantage climb to 20 points (65-45) in the third quarter, but the Celtics came storming all the way back. Jaylen Brown scored 19 of his 34 points in the second half. The Celtics tied the game at 77 with more than nine minutes to play and it was back and forth the rest of the way.

Malcolm Brogdon finished with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting. His biggest basket was a corner three in the final minute to give the Bucks a lead.

To win the series, the Bucks will need to win one game in Boston. Their first chance comes Tuesday night at TD Garden.

AUDIO: Joe Prunty on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s game winning tip-in :08

AUDIO: Khris Middleton says the Bucks reserves really brought the energy :18

Bucks fall into 0-2 hole against Boston

April 18, 2018 By Bill Scott

After turning it over 20 times in the series opening loss in overtime, the Milwaukee Bucks coughed it up 15 more times on Tuesday night, falling to the Boston Celtics 120-106 at TD Garden. They’ll return to Milwaukee for games 3 and 4, trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven opening round series.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (30 pts) and Khris Middleton (25 pts) combined for 55 points on 23 of 31 shooting from the field. The rest of the team struggled to find any consistency at either end of the floor.

The Bucks shot 59.7% from the field and 41.2% from three-point distance, yet still lost by 14 points. They struggled to defend and they struggled to rebound. Those two areas, along with the turnovers were deciding factors in the outcome.

The Bucks lost the 50-50 battles in the opener. Tuesday night, they simply were out hustled all over the floor. [Read more…]

Bucks fall to Boston in overtime in playoff opener (AUDIO)

April 16, 2018 By Bill Scott

Khris Middleton’s long buzzer-beating three-pointer forced overtime, but the Milwaukee Bucks couldn’t finish the deal, falling to the Boston Celtics 113-107 on Sunday afternoon.

The Bucks were down by 10 points with less than 4 1/2 minutes to play, when they went on a 8-0 run to get back within striking distance. With 11.1 seconds left, Malcolm Brogdon tied the game with a three-pointer.

Boston’s Terry Rozier bounced back to hit a three-pointer of his own with 0.5 seconds left before Middleton responded with his 35-footer to force overtime.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 35 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out late in overtime. Middleton added 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Brogdon is the only other Bucks player in double figures with 16 points.

The Bucks didn’t get enough elsewhere. Eric Bledsoe finished with nine points and five turnovers before fouling out in overtime. Tony Snell had 2 points in 33 minutes. Jabari Parker played only 15 minutes and scored two points. Jason Terry played 18 minutes and finished with three points. [Read more…]

Same old story for the Bucks (AUDIO)

April 6, 2018 By Bill Scott

The Milwaukee Bucks clinched a playoff spot on Wednesday without playing a game. With four games left to play, they still could have a say in who they’ll face in the opening round of the playoffs. But you would never know it by the way they played Thursday night, falling to the Brooklyn Nets 119-111 at the Bradley Center.

The Nets, who have been eliminated from any post-season thoughts long ago, should have been the team that was playing out the string. Instead, it was the Bucks, who continue to show a lack of energy and lack of desire on the defensive end of the floor.

Defending the three-point shot has been a problem for the Bucks all season long. They talk about trying to fix it, but talk is cheap.

On Thursday night, while making just 5 of 20 three-point shots (25%) themselves, the Nets hit 19 of 39 from distance (48.7%). Many of their looks were wide open as the Bucks either didn’t rotate on time, or didn’t even attempt to run at the shooters. [Read more…]

Bucks collapse in fourth quarter, fall to Nuggets (AUDIO)

April 2, 2018 By Bill Scott

The Milwaukee Bucks blew a 18-point fourth quarter lead and fell to the Denver Nuggets 128-125 in overtime on Sunday night. It means the Bucks remain winless in Denver dating back to 2010.

The Bucks had a three-point lead with 4.1 seconds to play with the ball. But Khris Middleton’s inbound pass was intercepted and Jamal Murray fired an off-balance three that missed its mark. But Jason Terry was called for a foul and Murray made all three free throws to send the game to overtime.

The Nuggets scored the first five points and led by as many as seven points in the overtime and held on for the win.

The Bucks got 35 points from Jabari Parker and 27 points from Eric Bledsoe. Nikola Jokic had 35 points and 13 rebounds and Murray finished with 27 points in the Denver victory.

Giannis Antetokounmpo fouled out with 3:43 left and was then ejected with a technical foul for voicing his displeasure with the call. Once Giannis was gone, the Bucks were not able to hold off the Nuggets comeback.

The Bucks finished their trip out west with a 2-2 record. They fell back into 8th place in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.

Milwaukee (41-36) returns to the Bradley Center on Tuesday night to face the Boston Celtics (53-23).

AUDIO: Joe Prunty on the Bucks being outshot by 19 at the free throw line :20

AUDIO: Joe Prunty on not having Giannis Antetokounmpo in the final minutes :20

Bucks knock off short-handed Warriors

March 30, 2018 By Bill Scott

Kevin Durant’s return for the Golden State Warriors was short-lived in a 116-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Oakland on Thursday night.

Durant was ejected in the second quarter of his first game back from a rib injury after picking up a pair of technical fouls. Durant was ejected after continues use of profanity. It’s the fifth time he’s been tossed this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 32 points on 14 of 18 shooting for the Bucks. Khris Middleton added 23 points and Eric Bledsoe added 20 points. Jabari Parker rebounded from a 1-for-12 shooting night against the Clippers on Tuesday night, by scoring 14 points on 6 of 12 shooting against the Warriors.

Quinn Cook hit all five of his threes on his way to a career high 30 points in the loss.

The Bucks (40-35) are a half-game behind the Heat for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.

Houston clinched home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs with Golden State’s loss.

The Bucks are in Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Friday night.

Bucks drop opener on West Coast

March 28, 2018 By Bill Scott

The Milwaukee Bucks have struggled defending the three this season and last night’s West Coast opener in Los Angeles against the Clippers was no acception.

The Clippers hit their first seven three-point shots to start the game and finished it by hitting their last three, on the way to a 105-98 victory over the Bucks.

Overall, the Clippers hit 15 of 28 from distance (53.6%). It’s the ninth time that Milwaukee has allowed 15 or more three-pointers in a game this season. On the flip side, the Bucks hit just 6 of 23 from distance (26.1%).

The Bucks entered the fourth quarter with a four point lead but struggled to get anything going in the final frame. They still led by five with 8:17 left to play but went scoreless for over four minutes as the Clippers went on a 13-0 run to finish off the Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 26 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and five blocks. Khris Middleton added 22 points, but the Bucks committed 17 turnovers.

Jabari Parker played well on the defensive end, but finished the game just 1 for 12 from the field on offense.

The Bucks (39-35) play game two of their four game trip at Golden State (54-20) on Thursday night.

The Warriors have been hit by injuries and the flu bug, but Kevin Durant (rib) is expected to return against the Bucks. Draymond Green (flu-like symptoms) is also expected to return in time for the game.

Lebron James leads Cavs past Bucks

March 20, 2018 By Bill Scott

Lebron James imposed his will on the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night as the Cavaliers pulled out a 124-117 win.

With Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue announcing earlier in the day that he would be taking a leave of absence to address health issues, James responded with his third triple-double in the last four games, 16th of the season and 71st of his career. James tallied 40 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to move four games in front of the Bucks in the NBA Central Division race.

Kevin Love also returned to the Cavaliers lineup after missing six weeks with a broken left hand, scoring 18 points in 25 minutes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points and was perfect (11 for 11) at the free throw line. Khris Middleton added 30 points on 11 of 16 shooting, but the Bucks fell into eighth place in the Eastern Conference after Miami knocked off Denver.

The Bucks once again struggled to defend the three. Cleveland his 15 of 38 from distance, while the Bucks were just 8 of 31.

The Bucks (37-33) will return to Milwaukee to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.

Thomas honored

The Cavaliers honored former Browns tackle Joe Thomas, introducing him to the crowd during a timeout. Thomas, who held his retirement press conference on Monday, received a standing ovation. The Wisconsin native played his college football with the Badgers.

Bucks suffer tough road defeat

March 15, 2018 By Bill Scott

The Orlando Magic, coming off a 36-point road loss in San Antonio the night before, should have been easy prey for a Milwaukee Bucks team that had won two straight and had a day of rest. But that was not the case on Wednesday night in Orlando.

The Magic held the lead for most of the night and hit a franchise-record-tying 18 of 34 three-pointers and knocked off the Bucks 126-117.

Orlando used a 13-0 run to take the lead in the first quarter and every time the Bucks tried to make a run, the Magic would answer with a flurry of three’s. They led 36-20 after the first quarter.

The Bucks rebounded to take the lead in the third quarter at 80-77 with 3:57 left in the period. That would be the last points the Bucks would score in the quarter. Orlando went on a 10-0 run to take the lead for good.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 38 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Bucks, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from falling into eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 14 games to play.

The Bucks (36-32) are back home to host the Atlanta Hawks (20-48) on Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.