Bucks blown up by thunder without giannis, lillard, middleton

On February 4, 2025By Littum

Oklahoma City-Interation of Milwaukee Bucks, who took the court in the Paycom Center on Monday night, had to play excellent basketball just to stay competitive with the best team in the NBA, but unfortunately for the short-handed bucks they were they Oklahoma City Thunder It put a show in a dominant victory 125-96.

Bucks was without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez and Top Reserve Bobby Portis Jr. Most valuable player candidate and League’s leading goal scorer in Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderwas mostly whole. The game was decided in the first 24 minutes when Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points on 13 of 17 shoots in just 17 first half when Thunder took a 78-44 lead into the break.

“I just thought we started poorly defensively,” said Buck’s head coach Doc Rivers. “I showed them at the break that we had 15 open shots in the first half, and we look at it as a good insult whether the ball goes in or not. But their shots were so light too.

“Misconimation. I asked them after the game, the game is hard not? And the communication – I asked them what is the one thing they thought they were struggling in and they all just started (said) communication. I said yes, it is defense and that’s what you have to do.

Milwaukee (26-22), who lost its fourth in a row and for the fifth time in his last six games, couldn’t get any stops in defense and couldn’t keep up with the step offensive.

In the decisive first half, Bucks were only 5 of 20 (25%) behind the three-point line and shot only 36% overall. They were also only 11-for-25 (44%) on shots in the paint.

Thunder (38-9), on the other hand, was red hot. Oklahoma City was 9-for-16 (56%) behind the three-point line, shot 65% (32 of 49) overall and scored 40 points in the paint. Thunder also scored 13 points from eight dollars revenue.

“Look, they’re a huge team and it’s not a secret,” said Bucks Wing Pat Connughton. “For us when you are in a game when you are in a situation where you are short -handed like we were tonight you have to think about the things you can control. I think you should learn in those areas , you can improve.

“For us tonight we didn’t do a good job of taking care of the ball with offense, we didn’t do a good job of keeping them out of the field on defense. When you look back on the game we played them in Las Vegas –olly different staff playing – but we did a good job of doing some of these two hard.

“Of course tonight they started getting into the field, they started getting some layups, guys started to feel good and they made 16 triangles (for the game).”

Oklahoma City ran out of her starters to start the second half, and Gilgeous-Alexander scored four points to finish with 34. He came on average 32.4 points per year. Match.

Bucks sat taurean Prince (16 minutes) after the break and sat AJ Green (21) and Gary Trent Jr. (20) After action in the third quarter. Connughton also played 21 minutes. Unfortunately for Bucks, the quartet of veterans was a combined 4 out of 11 behind the three-point line. Only Trent reached double in the scoring with 10 points on 4 of 11 shoots overall.

Guard Ryan Rollins led Bucks with 16 points on 5 out of 9 shooting. Other Jackson Jr. had 10 points. Second -year -free Chris Livingston earned the first start of his career and scored 10 points and six rebounds.

Rookies AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith played quite a bit, with Smith Logging 27 minutes and Johnson 29. Smith scored 12 points on 4 out of 15 shoots, including 3 out of 10 behind the three-point line. Johnson scored 13 points on 5 of 12 shoots.

“It was a challenge in itself, just not playing together, not having a typical five man on the field and no edge protection,” Rollins said. “We played one to five pounds that we don’t do much, so I mean it was just a little difficult the first time to play with each other when we really liked training camp. Before that, Summer League really.

“That part was tough, but we just wanted to come out and compete, play hard, move the ball. I mean we didn’t get the job done tonight. But I think everyone was competing.”

Bucks Hope Rest leads to Rally before All-Star Break

Like most teams, Bucks has a list of a number of dents and bruises-but Monday’s decision on Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton and Lopez to heal up was the culmination of a rather strenuous 14-day period.

Beginning on January 20, when the team flew to New Orleans to “beat” a historic blizzard that closes the big light, Bucks have either been on the road – or on a plane – Every single day.

“I can’t get things back, but I used to do this when the league didn’t do things (this way), but I really wanted to; my instincts told me to fly them directly to Charlotte today,” Rivers said after the game. “But it’s a bad look and I didn’t. And wouldn’t waste the owners’ money on fines. But it’s a real rest.

“They still get good rest. A day of rest for us.

This travel trend actually led into a 15^Th On the following day, when Bucks immediately flew to Charlotte after the game against Thunder to at least give their stars two days off and the rest of the team as much of full off -day as possible before playing the horn’s Wednesday.

Connughton recognized the privilege of playing the game – and that such schedule is part of this privilege – but added, “There is a physical toll taken on guys. The guys have different kinds of games, right? You talk about giannis, he Gets beat every single game.

Connughton continued: “When you look at guys like Khris coming back from an injury, you look at lady still playing at the highest levels as he gets older, the extra 24 hours can mean a lot. And the extra nights with Sleep can mean a lot.

But here is no rest for the tired ones. Milwaukee then plays at Atlanta Friday before they get home on Saturday. They then play three matches on four days-inclusive a matinee from 9-12. February before the seven-day all-star break.

5 numbers

1: Play this season, like the whole of the big three of Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Middleton have missed. Bucks had played every game this season with at least one of their All-Stars.

11: Play back in which Point Guard Ryan Rollins can be active after Monday’s game. Bucks have 34 games in regular season back. Rollins is a two-way player and players signed for these offers can only be active in 50 games in a season-but rivers said there is a chance that the team will make a list to move to fully guarantee Rollins ‘Agree for the rest of the season.

1-11: Bucks’ record against the top three teams in each conference (0-8 against Cleveland, Boston and New York in the east and 1-3 against Oklahoma City, Memphis and Houston in the west). They had a one-point victory over Houston on November 18 at the Fiserv Forum.

9-11: Bucks’ record against teams that were .500 or better at night they played.

9-14: Bucks’ road record. They have not been .500 this season since the start of the year 1-1 on October 27. They were 18-22 on the road last season. From 2018-23, they were one of the best teams on the road in NBA, where they prepared a 123-74 (62.4%) record away from the Fiserv Forum.

Giannis Antetokounmpo sits out toward thunder

Giannis Antetokounmpo has controlled pain in his right knee (right patella tendinopathy) all season and Monday marked the first time he missed a game with the problem. He has not missed a game since he sat four in a row from 21 to 28 December.

Damian Lillard excluded late vs. thunder

All-Star Point Guard began the day as questionable to play with the tenderness of the left groin, but he has dealt with some other bumps and bruises that were slightly in both legs in San Antonio on January 31. He played through it on Sunday vs. Memphis, but he was excluded for the Thunder game a few hours before tip-off.

Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez excluded for Bucks

Bucks has controlled Middleton’s return from out-of-season operation against Memphis and played right in back-to-back games on 27-28. January.

Lopez lacks his first match of the season as he controls tenderness.

The 36-year-old center had surgery on his back in the 2021-22 season, causing him to miss 69 regular seasonal matches. He has an average of 33.5 minutes per day. Fight during his last five matches, starting with a 41-minute effort in Los Angeles on January 25, with Portis away for personal reasons. In the first 42 games of the season, Lopez was an average of 32 minutes per minute. Match. He has been about 30 minutes per day. Battle the previous two seasons.

Bucks Damage Report

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Out (Right Patellar Tendinopathy)
Khris Middleton, out (bilateral ankle surgery -injury handling)
Bobby Portis Jr., Out (personal reasons)
Damian Lillard, Out (left groin tenderness)
Brook Lopez, Out (Back tenderness)

Bucks Starting Setup

Which channel is Bucks on?

The game will be broadcast locally on the Fanduel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington and Marques Johnson on the call.

Bucks vs. Thunder odds, Over/Under

Oklahoma City is an 11.5-point favorite over Milwaukee, with over/under set to 232.5 points per Betmgm.