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Bucks respond with playoff win against Orlando

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Pat Connaughton – (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).

After suffering an embarrassing game one defeat on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks rebounded with a 111-96 win over the Orlando Magic to even their best-of-seven opening round series at a game apiece.

After failing to find their way defensively for most of the eight seeding games and the game one playoff loss, the Bucks became the aggressor, holding the Magic to just 13 first quarter points.

The Bucks offense was a little slow to start, but their defensive play allowed them to warm up and maintain a lead while doing so.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points and 20 rebounds to lead the way.  Brook Lopez added 20 points and Pat Connaughton came through with a strong effort off the bench, scoring 15 points and adding 11 rebounds.  All 15 points came on three-pointers for Connaughton.

The Magic made a push in the third when Nikola Vucevic made all six of his shots in the quarter, on the way to a 32-point, 10 rebound night.  Orlando cut the Bucks lead to 12 before the Bucks responded and widened the gap.

Orlando once again cut into the Bucks lead, making it a single-digit game late in the fourth quarter.  But the Bucks responded with a couple of Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks and then a pair of Brook Lopez three’s to seal the victory.

Bucks forward Khris Middleton struggled in the opener and things didn’t change in game two.  Middleton made just one of his eight field goals for two points.

The Bucks defense held Orlando to 34.8% from the field and 21.2% (7 of 33) from three-point range.

The Bucks and Magic play game three in the bubble on Saturday.

Bucks fall to Rockets in the bubble

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Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 36 points and added 18 rebounds and eight assists but it wasn’t enough as the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Houston Rockets 120-116 in Orlando on Sunday night.

Khris Middleton added 27 points and 12 rebounds and Brook Lopez had 23 points for the Bucks, who fell to 54-13 overall.

Russell Westbrook scored 31 points as Houston used a late 9-0 run to get back into the game.  The Rockets tied the NBA record for most three-point attempts with 61.  They made 21 of them.  They also forced 22 Milwaukee turnovers.

The Bucks out-rebounded the Rockets 65-36. [Read more…]

Bucks use size to beat Suns

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Pat Connaughton File Photo: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).

The Milwaukee Bucks returned to their winning ways on Sunday, knocking off the Phoenix  Suns 129-108 at Fiserv Forum.

The Bucks lost to Denver on Friday night but pushed their record to 42-7 with Sunday’s win.  They remain on pace to reach 70-wins.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and added 19 rebounds and nine assists to lead the way.  Khris Middleton added 25 points and Brook Lopez had 17 points to go along with nine blocked shots, which is a career high.

The Suns top offensive threat, Devin Booker, scored 32 points but hit just 2 of 5 from beyond the arc.  Deandre Ayton finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds for Phoenix, which has dropped five of their last seven.

The Bucks have won 15 of their last 17 and will return to action Tuesday night in New Orleans against the Pelicans.

Connaughton to dunk in Chicago

Bucks reserve guard Pat Connaughton has been selected to take part in the NBA’s dunk contest as a part of All-Star weekend in Chicago.  Connaughton is one of four players selected to participate so far.  He joins Lakers center Dwight Howard, as well as Orlando’s Aaron Gordon and Miami’s Derrick Jones Jr.

Connaughton will be just the fourth Bucks player to compete in the dunk competition and first since Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2015.  Paul Pressey and Ray Allen are the other two players to compete in that event.

The dunk contest is slated for Saturday night (8 p.m.), February 15 in Chicago.

 

Giannis powers Bucks past Jazz

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Playing without Khris Middleton and George Hill, the Milwaukee Bucks struggled in the first half against the Utah Jazz, trailing by nine points at halftime.  But Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 50 points, 32 in the second half, to lead the Bucks to a come-from-behind 122-118 win over the Jazz at Fiserv Forum.

The win was the Bucks eighth in a row, their longest win streak since the 2002 season.

The Bucks (14-3) trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, but Antetokounmpo tried to keep them in it, scoring 18 first half points.

Wesley Matthews was a big part of the second half comeback as well, hitting four three-pointers in as many tries in the third quarter.

Down the stretch, the Jazz refused to go easy.  Utah had the ball, down by two with the shot clock off.  Donovan Mitchell drove to the basket and Bucks big man Brook Lopez made a key block and pulling down the rebound.  He quickly gave the ball to Pat Connaughton who was fouled and iced the game with a pair of free throws.

The Bucks are off on Tuesday and host the Atlanta Hawks at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday night.

 

Bucks push win streak to six

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Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a triple-double with 24 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks knocked off the Portland Trailblazers 137-129 on Thursday night at Fiserv Forum.

Eric Bledsoe scored 30 points and Pat Connaughton added 18 off the bench to lead the Bucks (12-3) to their sixth straight victory.

C.J. McCollum led the way with 37 points and 10 assists for Portland, which has dropped three in-a-row.  The Trailblazers were playing shorthanded, without star guard Damian Lillard (back spasms) and big men Zach Collins (shoulder) and Hassan Whiteside (hip).

The win over Portland started a stretch where the Bucks will play 12 of their next 15 games at home.

 

Bucks pull away to beat Cavaliers

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Khris Middleton – File Photo Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Milwaukee Bucks moved back above the .500 mark with a 129-112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night at Fiserv Forum.

Khris Middleton led seven Bucks players in double figures with 21 points.  He also added eight rebounds.  George Hill added 19 and Pat Connaughton added 17 on 6 of 8 shooting off the bench.

Brook Lopez also added 16 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

The Bucks turned a nine point lead late in the fourth quarter into a 21 point lead, pulling away for the win.

Collin Sexton had 18 points to lead Cleveland.  Kevin Love had 15 points and 16 rebounds while Tristan Thompson finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who fell to 1-2.

The Bucks are off today before facing the Celtics in Boston on Wednesday night.

 

 

 

Bucks part company with Malcolm Brogdon

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Malcolm Brogdon – Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Milwaukee Bucks were active with the official start of free agency underway on Sunday.

All-star Khris Middleton will sign a five year, $178 million dollar deal to remain with the Bucks.  The negotiating period started Sunday and the contracts can become official on July 6th.

Bucks center Brook Lopez agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal.

Veteran guard George Hill was released by the team earlier, then agreed to a lesser deal, three years worth $29 million.

Those deals came at a price.  With guard Malcolm Brogdon set to become a restricted free agent, the Bucks sent him to the Indiana Pacers for a first and pair of second round draft picks next year.  Brogdon gets a four year deal worth $85 million from the Pacers.

The Bucks could have matched any potential offer from another NBA team for Brogdon, who was a restricted free agent.  But the salary cap was going to be an issue and to a certain extent, still is.  Somebody had to go and to the Bucks ownership, it made the most sense to deal Brogdon.

Brogdon will certainly be missed, signing Hill helps.  They’ll need to get last seasons top draft pick, Donte DiVincenzo, as well as returning players Sterling Brown and Pat Connaughton to step up their game to make up for Brogdon’s departure.

Getting Middleton to return, as well as Lopez in the middle, will go a long way towards helping the Bucks take another run at an NBA title.

Bucks grab commanding 3-1 series lead (AUDIO)

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George Hill – Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Milwaukee Bucks struggled early and then saw shooters Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton take a third quarter seat on the bench with foul trouble.  But like they’ve done all season, the Bucks bench came to the rescue and outscored Boston 33-23 in the period, on the way to a 113-101 victory over the Celtics.

The win gave the Bucks a 3-1 Eastern Conference semifinal series lead with a chance to wrap it up in five games on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum.

With the bench mob on the court, the Bucks rallied to take a 10-point lead and took an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned and scored 17 of his game high 39 points in that final period as the Bucks pulled away for the win.  Antetokounmpo also added 16 rebounds to his total. [Read more…]

Bucks take 2-0 lead in playoff win over Detroit

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Eric Bledsoe – File Photo / Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).

After losing by 35 points in the series opener, the Detroit Pistons put up a bigger battle in game two, but in the end, the Milwaukee Bucks pulled out a 120-99 win to take a 2-0 lead in their opening round Eastern Conference playoff series.

The Pistons took a one-point lead (59-58) into the locker room at halftime, but The Bucks turned up the heat defensively and dominated the third quarter to pull away.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored the first seven points of the third quarter for the Bucks and they outscored the Pistons 35-17 in the period to once again take control.

Eric Bledsoe had 27 points to lead the Bucks.  Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points and 12 rebounds.  Khris Middleton added 24 and Pat Connaughton came off the bench to score 18 points and pull down nine rebounds.

Andre Drummond had 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Pistons, who will host game three of the series on Saturday in Detroit.

Bucks roll in playoff opener against Detroit

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Giannis Antetokounmpo – Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Milwaukee Bucks swept their four-game series against Detroit during the regular season and their dominance against the Pistons continued into the post-season.  The Bucks grabbed game one of their best-of-seven series 121-86 at Fiserv Forum on Sunday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points and 17 assists in just 23 minutes to lead the Bucks.

In all, seven Bucks scored in double figures.  Eric Bledsoe had 15 points, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez added 14 each.

With the Bucks blowing out the Pistons, it meant coach Mike Budenholzer was able to keep the minutes down for his starters.  In fact, reserve Pat Connaughton played the most minutes (28).

The Bucks build a 20-point lead after the first quarter and led by 27 at halftime.  The lead grew to as [Read more…]