Madness in Milwaukee
In last night’s matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Utah Jazz, the Bucks came out on top 122–118 to earn its eigth consecutive win, advancing its record to a conference best at 14–3. This game was a high intensity, back-and-forth battle which entailed a tremendous defensive showcase and stars getting into clutch rhythms as the game progressed. Not only will this game be ingrained in Bucks history, but also it will be cemented into Giannis’ legacy.
Antetokounmpo ended the game with a statline of 50 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and Z.E.R.O. turnovers! The fact that this freak of nature did not commit a single turnover during his 38.5 minutes of gameplay is remarkable, especially considering his super-explosive game style that can very easily yield a plethora of traveling violations. Furthermore, his ability to drive and dish without making a single mistake demonstrates Giannis’ precision and his fluid involvement in the team’s composition. This performance extended the reigning MVP’s double-double streak to 17 straight, keeping him on track to pass Bill Walton’s double-double streak of 34 games in the ’76-’77 season. The Greek Freak’s damage truly came into effect in the second half by scoring 32 points with a variety of monstrous dunks and his consistency in converting on shots inside and outside of the paint at an efficient rate (54.8% from field goal range).
Going into Fiserv Forum on any given night is difficult, but it is especially challenging when it’s a westcoast opponent that has just beat Milwaukee in heart-tugging fashion. Though offense does not always travel, defense will and the league’s best defense in the Utah Jazz was able to heavily contest the Bucks shots and ultimately shut down Milwaukee in the first half, forcing them to shoot 3 of 17 from three-point range. Both teams went into the locker room as the score favored the Jazz, 57–48.
In the third quarter, the Bucks started to shine, going on a rapid 10–0 run including three-point hits from Antetokounmpo. If Giannis can continue to develop his skills from beyond the perimeter, then the world will no doubtingly be witnessing the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball. During this dominating third quarter for the Bucks, players such as Wesley Matthews, who scored 19 points, and Eric Bledsoe, who ended with 13, were critical pieces in completing the victory. Though Bledsoe was not extremely efficient, his self-awareness allowed the team to thrive in a competitive, playoff-esq environment. In being self-aware, the involvement of Pat Connaughton was extraordinary and his added energy and bounciness not only earned himself 11 points, but also trickled over to the fans and players in the stadium. The Bucks completed the third quarter by outscoring Utah 42–26, and went into the fourth quarter up by a score of 90–83.
Though the Bucks have the second best defense in the league, Utah’s three ball was falling all night long regardless of what type of defensive setups Coach Budenholzer was implementing. Bogdanovic hit five threes, O’Neale hit three, Mitchell hit three, and the bench converted on ten of their nineteen three point attempts.
Revenge is sweet, and when a team can execute payback in a timely manner against an elite opponent, the feeling is unmatchable. On the night of November 3, Milwaukee’s loss on a Bogdanovic buzzer-beater in Salt Lake City was terrifying for Bucks fans around the world. Fast forward 22 days later, and now the Bucks have just reached a historic feat in earning a win streak which has not been experienced in Bucks history since the winter of 2002. With the Bucks off to a hot start, having lost to solely respectable teams including Miami, Boston, and Utah, this Milwaukee team is on an upwards trajectory and its ceiling is incomprehensible.
To seal the game, Brook Lopez had a fantastic block on Donovan “Spida” Mitchell to put Milwaukee back on the free throw line and ice the game by giving the team a four point lead. Despite Utah shooting more efficiently than Milwaukee, the Jazz turned the ball over 17 times compared to the Bucks’ 9 turnovers, the Bucks outscored the Jazz in the paint by scoring 58 points to Utah’s 38, and they outrebounded and outscored the Jazz in transition — largely in part because of Giannis. Though Rudy Gobert missed this game due to a left ankle sprain, Khris Middleton, who had sat out the past six games due to a left thigh contusion was also inactive. Middleton will be active in tomorrow’s game against Atlanta.
The Bucks will be playing home against the Atlanta Hawks tomorrow, November 26, while the Jazz will be taking on the Indiana Pacers. Subscribe to “Mic Drop with Jared Rosenthal” on Apple or Spotify for a further analysis regarding NBA news.
