The Milwaukee Bucks continued their impressive winning streak by securing their 15th straight victory against the Brooklyn Nets with a score of 118-104 at the Barclays Center in New York on Tuesday night. This winning streak is the fourth longest in franchise history and is currently the most consecutive win in the NBA since Phoenix Suns won 18 straight games last season. Moreover, several members of the current Bucks core were part of the team during the second-longest win streak of 18 games in the 2019-20 season. Milwaukee Bucks claim their 15th consecutive win by defeating Nets 118-104
After their win against Phoenix Suns on Sunday, Middleton shared that the team is not as focused on the extended run of success as they were in the past. While they are enjoying each win, they are not as obsessed with the streak as they were before. Antetokounmpo echoed Middleton’s thoughts and stated that the team is more focused on building good habits instead of chasing the winning streak.
Antetokounmpo explained that in the 2019-20 season, they were a younger team that had never been in that position before, which was why they were extremely excited about the win streak. However, he added that winning the championship is more important than breaking records. Antetokounmpo said that although it’s great to be part of a team that has won 15 games in a row, building good habits is more crucial in the long run.
Antetokounmpo also acknowledged that winning 18 games in a row in the past was a great story, and he could tell his kids and grandkids about it. Nevertheless, winning a championship is what truly matters in the end. The Bucks are currently one of the top teams in the league, and their focus is on continuing to build their momentum while ensuring that they maintain their good habits. With this impressive winning streak, the Bucks are sure to inspire confidence in their fans and strike fear into the hearts of their opponents.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ current 15-game winning streak is the fourth longest in the franchise’s history and the longest in the NBA this season. However, the team’s focus is on building good habits rather than just maintaining the streak. While the 2019-20 team may have been more excited about their 18-game winning streak, the current Bucks team is more focused on using each win to build confidence and try out different lineups and styles of play.
For Middleton, the winning streak is a testament to the team’s depth, with different players stepping up in various games to help secure victories. He believes that no matter what lineup they throw out there, they have a chance to win and can figure out a way to match up with most teams. Similarly, Connaughton notes that the team’s ability to come back from double-digit deficits against the Nets shows their resilience and ability to focus on each game rather than just the streak.
At halftime of the Nets game, the team’s message was not about keeping the streak alive, but rather about focusing on the 24 minutes left in the game and doing their best to win. While the winning streak may be impressive, the Bucks are more focused on using each win to build confidence and improve their overall performance.
A few years back, the Bucks had an 18-game win streak, and one of the reasons for their success was their hunger to play their brand of basketball. It wasn’t just the starters or rotational players, but also the guys after that who were willing to step up and contribute. In the recent game, with two minutes left, the Nets cut the lead to 13, causing some concern. However, the Bucks were able to hit some great shots and extend their lead to 18, showing their ability to learn through adversity.
The victory brought the Bucks’ overall record to 44-17, while the Nets fell to 34-27. Five Bucks players scored in double figures, and they dominated in the paint, outscoring the Nets 62-44 in that area. The mental aspect of the game, such as taking things in stride and learning from challenges, is a strength of this Bucks team that will likely pay off in the end.
Overall, the Bucks’ win against the Nets showcased their strong team play and mental resilience. With their dominance in the paint and multiple players contributing, they were able to secure a comfortable lead despite the Nets’ attempts to make a comeback.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Spectacular Comeback: Dominating the Court at Full Speed
Strangely, the MVP front-runner for the Bucks hadn’t participated in a complete contest since their overtime victory over Boston on February 14. His most recent two regular-season games were cut short due to ailments, first suffering from a sprained right wrist against Chicago on February 16 and a bruised right quadriceps. (Feb. 24 vs. Miami). Early on, Antetokounmpo appeared to be in good shape as he threw down three enormous dunks to get the road audience clapping in support of him.
Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer expressed that it felt like it had been a while since they had watched Giannis Antetokounmpo play basketball due to the team’s recent schedule. Despite some rust, Antetokounmpo managed to turn up the heat in the second half, scoring 12 points in the third quarter and four early points in the fourth to increase the Bucks’ margin and help them start to pull away.
However, the first half proved to be an adjustment period for Antetokounmpo, as he struggled to get back into the swing of things after some time off. Three of the Bucks’ 12 first-half turnovers were a result of missed passes from Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton to Antetokounmpo, while Antetokounmpo himself turned the ball over twice, leading to 16 points for the Nets.
Overall, Budenholzer was impressed with Antetokounmpo’s performance, noting that he played well alongside the rest of the group in the second half. The physicality and contact of the game took some getting used to, but Antetokounmpo was able to find his footing and make a significant impact on the game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had an impressive return to the court after a brief absence due to injury. Despite some concerns over his right wrist, which had been bothering him since late January, Antetokounmpo finished the game with 33 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists in just 28 minutes of play. He also threw down some impressive dunks that showed he was feeling healthy and energized.
Teammate Khris Middleton spoke highly of Antetokounmpo’s performance, noting that he got the team going and provided the leadership they needed to secure the win. Antetokounmpo’s impact on the game was felt early on, as he scored 12 points in the third quarter and four early points in the fourth to help the Bucks increase their margin and start to pull away from the Nets.
Antetokounmpo’s injury concerns were also discussed after the game, with the star player admitting that he had been dealing with soreness in his knee for several weeks. Though he had been playing through it, the injury had forced him to leave the game against the Heat after knocking knees with an opponent. Despite the discomfort, Antetokounmpo’s significant other had encouraged him to keep playing, noting that he never seemed to get hurt.
However, Antetokounmpo emphasized the importance of taking care of his body and ensuring that he was in a position to be healthy. He had gone for additional testing on his right wrist, which had been bothering him, and the results had shown no significant damage. Although he had pulled out of the Heat game due to a quad bruise, he had also hit his right knee against an opponent in a previous game.
Overall, Antetokounmpo’s return to the court was a welcome sight for the Bucks, who had missed his presence and leadership during his brief absence. With the team looking to make a push for the playoffs, Antetokounmpo’s health and ability to perform at a high level will be critical to their success in the coming weeks.
The absence of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving gave a different vibe to the latest match-up between the Bucks and Nets. Instead of the star power of the home team, the Nets relied on a collaborative effort from their starting players, who all played at least 29 minutes. Coach Jacque Vaughn decided to stick with his starters, who were successful in generating turnovers and drawing fouls despite the height disadvantage they faced against Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis.
The Nets’ Mikal Bridges led the charge in the first half, scoring 18 points, followed by Cam Johnson and Spencer Dinwiddie with 15 and 13 points, respectively. The Nets managed to build a lead of as much as 15 points in the first half.
The Bucks were not without their own struggles, committing 12 turnovers in the first half, three of which came from missed passes to Antetokounmpo from Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. Antetokounmpo himself also had two turnovers in the first half.
Despite their first-half difficulties, the Bucks were able to bounce back in the second half, largely due to the efforts of Antetokounmpo. He scored 12 points in the third quarter to help the Bucks get back into the game and then added four more points early in the fourth to increase the Bucks’ lead and begin to pull away from the Nets. Antetokounmpo finished the game with 33 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists in just 28 minutes.
Pat Connaughton praised Antetokounmpo’s leadership, saying that at halftime, he emphasized the need to take advantage of the opportunity to come back when things aren’t going well because the playoffs won’t always be easy. The Bucks will need to learn from their mistakes in the first half and continue to rely on the leadership and performance of Antetokounmpo as they move forward.
Bucks Overcome New-Look Nets in Impressive Victory
The Bucks-Nets game had a different feel to it as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving was no longer headlining for the home team. Instead, the Nets relied on a group effort of starting players ranging from 6 feet, 5 inches to 6-11. Despite the height mismatch against Antetokounmpo, the Nets were active defensively in forcing turnovers and drawing fouls. The Nets led by as many as 15 in the first half, with Bridges, Johnson, and Dinwiddie leading the charge.
However, the Bucks gradually reeled them in and tied the game early in the third quarter, thanks to Middleton, Holiday, and Ingles’ contributions. But then, with Antetokounmpo leaving the game with his fourth foul with 5:04 to go in the third, the Bucks outscored the Nets 18-7 to take a 91-85 lead into the fourth. The stretch was sparked by Middleton, Holiday, and Ingles, and it seemed that the Nets were running on fumes.
Middleton played off the ball and waited for his teammates to find him or for him to find open spots where he could do damage. From there, Antetokounmpo returned, and the Bucks tightened the screws on defense and pushed on the gas offensively. Unfortunately, Vaughn’s gamble didn’t pay off, as his starters appeared to be running out of steam. Brooklyn didn’t have a lot of height, to begin with, but when Vaughn went small, Budenholzer kept Lopez and Antetokounmpo on, and the Nets missed nine straight shots.
The Bucks didn’t immediately blow it open, but too much time lapsed for the Nets to get back into it. Vaughn then pulled the starters for good down 110-95 with 4:39 to go in the game. Bridges finished with 31 points on 11 of 19 shooting, Dinwiddie had 26, and Johnson had 19. However, Finney-Smith finished with just five, and Claxton had nine. Overall, the Nets had a good team effort, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Bucks, who ultimately emerged victorious.