The major injuries sustained by Bucks players during their match against the Spurs have put the team in serious danger. The Bucks will suffer a significant blow when they play the Rockets on Sunday.
SAN ANTONIO — The Milwaukee Bucks used their two superstars in the clutch to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 125-121 on Thursday night at the Frost Bank Center, avoiding their third straight loss.
The Bucks fended off a charge by rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama and his team in the fourth quarter, as Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 14 of his game-high 44 points, and Damian Lillard scored 11 of his 25 points in the last quarter.
In a hard-fought win, Milwaukee (25-10) avoided a three-game losing streak despite blowing double-digit leads in both the first and second halves. However, they were unable to completely shut out the Spurs. San Antonio suffered their fourth consecutive loss, dropping to 5-29.
Malik Beasley (10) and Khris Middleton (12) were the only other Bucks players to score in double figures.
Regarding the pivotal fourth quarter, Lillard stated, “I think tonight in the second half it’s like alright, this game is close, we didn’t run anything deep – it was just me and Giannis a lot.” “We engaged in numerous actions together, with both of us attacking at the same time.
Coming off all screens, they gotta work about Brook (Lopez) in the corner and ‘Beas’ on the wing and then having their big up the floor instead of sitting in the paint waiting for him. Like, it’s hard to stop him coming downhill when the defense is still moving. “They had to put two on the ball when I was coming off pick-and-rolls and I was hitting him coming down the middle.
It was just Giannis and I working, one of those games where everything was just so simple.
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 34 points, while Wembanyama chipped in 27 in just 26 minutes. For San Antonio, double figures came from Tre Jones (18), Keldon Johnson (14) and Cedi Osman (13).
Spurs 121, Bucks 125 in the box score
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the forward for the Bucks, is seated after he saved the ball for Pat Connaughton during Thursday night’s first-half matchup with the Spurs.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the forward for the Bucks, is seated after he saved the ball for Pat Connaughton during Thursday night’s first-half matchup with the Spurs.
Giannis Antetokounmpo squares off against Victor Wembanyama.
The much-anticipated first meeting between two of the NBA’s transcending stars did not disappoint.
Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama finished with 27 points and five blocks, including a highlight-reel swat of Antetokounmpo trying to fly in for a dagger score. Antetokounmpo finished with 44 points, including 12 of his team’s final 13 points.
“It was something that everyone was looking forward to,” Middleton said. “Especially in a game like this, with a guy who has a lot of potential, a lot of talent emerging in this league, and he’s playing well right now going up against a player who has won multiple MVPs, it was entertaining to watch. I’m just glad we won.”
“However, watching those two players battle, I don’t think the league has ever witnessed anything similar involving two 7-footers, or nearly 7-footers, who are capable of doing almost anything, going at each other.”
Even though the last few minutes of the match between the two titans were incredible, their confrontation started much earlier in the contest.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama traded highlights for three minutes at either end of the court during the second quarter. Initially, during a zone play by the Spurs, Antetokounmpo twisted around the defense and slapped a huge dunk on multiple Spur players. Bobby Portis gave Wembanyama a sly smile as he sprinted straight down the court and flipped the ball off the lower portion of the backboard to himself for a dunk.
“The game is in good hands, man, as a fan of the game who loves basketball and watches it every chance he gets,” Portis remarked. We have a team that is improving every day, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and an NBA champion. On the other hand, we also have a 20-year-old kid who has no idea what he can become. You know you appreciate it, man, just for being a game fan. It’s outstanding.
“I’ve played with Giannis for four years and have watched him do a lot of amazing things. On the other hand, this is my first time watching ‘Wemby,’ and he played every minute of it. He’s a great player. The things they can do on a nightly basis.”
It’s simply distinct. He is unique. to watch a 7–4 or 7–5 child dribble the ball for one and then shoot threes for two. As I mentioned before, the game is in capable hands when it comes to being on the floor.
Wembanyama attempted a number of pivots and pump fakes after Antetokounmpo checked him defensively. However, Antetokounmpo forced the rookie to give up the ball without making a shot. After Wembanyama swatted a Portis shot at 8:17, Antetokounmpo responded by forcing Blake Wesley to foul on the other end of the court with a trademark chase down.
After Wembanyama scored 11 points in the third quarter, including a dunk that included a behind-the-back move and a head nod to the crowd, Antetokounmpo then had a one-handed, left-hand dunk on the rookie that drew a foul, cutting the Bucks’ lead to 75-72.
The final minutes of the fourth quarter saw the giants continue their match.
In an unusual move to tie the game and give his team the lead, Antetokounmpo made back-to-back three-pointers to give the Bucks a 121-118 advantage.
Regarding the three-pointer to take the lead, Antetokounmpo remarked, “There are few moments in the game that you have – not in every game – but you have them at times, that you feel; you feel, like, greatness.” “It’s difficult to explain; you just sense when it’s right to put the signature in. Normally, I wouldn’t take a three like that; instead, I would have attacked. However, I sensed that this was the right time, so I shot it and was fortunate that it went in.”
With 69 seconds remaining, Wembanyama responded with a game-tying three-pointer of his own after he swatted a driving attempt by Lillard, which the Bucks point guard didn’t think the rookie could get to. However, with 53 seconds remaining, Antetokounmpo skillfully carved his way to the basket for a highlight-reel dunk and foul.
Wembanyama remarked of Antetokounmpo, “It was a great matchup. It’s someone that I grew up watching and one of the greatest players in the world, so it’s always extra motivation.” As a competitor, Wembanyama added, “I want to go at everyone and be the ‘bad guy’ on the court.”
Although they turned out to be game-winning points, the aftermath wasn’t without drama. In an attempt to fully seal the victory, Antetokounmpo attempted another dunk on the rookie, but Wembanyama turned him back with a powerful block. Tre Jones’ open three-point attempt to tie the game was made possible by it, but it was unsuccessful.
Antetokounmpo described the young Frenchman as “special.” “He is going to have exceptional skill as a player. He must continue to be well. He plays the game with winning strategy. Never saw someone like him. 7–4, 7–5. He is not 7-3. He stands much taller than 7-3. That person who claims to be 7-3 is lying. You haven’t, however, seen anything like that. No, I haven’t. Perhaps any of you have seen it? I doubt that any of you have seen it. The sky is the limit, then.
After that, Pat Connaughton scored the game’s last point.
He laughed and remarked, “Fun to watch, fun to be part of. I’m lucky to be able to see (Antetokounmpo) every single day.” It’s entertaining to watch him take on a young person who is becoming well-known, such as “Wemby.” They have respect for one another at the end of the day, in my opinion. I’m going to assume that this is the first of many battles. I am aware that Giannis primarily considers who won the game and whether we were able to prevail, rather than looking at the numbers at the end of the day. Yet, watching it was enjoyable.
Both players put on an amazing show for the coaches, players, entire crowd, and viewers across the country on national television.
There were certain instances, according to Lopez, where he thought, “Yeah, I haven’t really seen that before.” “There was a moment when I was sitting on the bench watching the game when Giannis made a fantastic play, followed by Wembanyama making another fantastic play. It’s astounding! Here, I’m witnessing something truly unique. I’m going to shoot a couple more left shoulder jump hooks if the game is proceeding in this manner, and that may be the end of my typical, grounded play. It was truly amazing to witness. It was fantastic.
It was a pleasure for me to observe and take part in. For many years to come, the league will benefit greatly from this.
In the fourth quarter, Damian Lillard logs in for the Bucks.
Bucks point guard Damian Lillard had nine assists and was 5 for 12 from the field through three quarters, scoring 14 points.
However, the Spurs overcame an 11-point deficit in the last ten minutes of the quarter to tie the game at 93. Lillard realized that he needed to adjust his perspective in this now back-and-forth exchange.
“Because of the way I attack, I often find myself in the paint with bodies there. I instinctively make the appropriate play, so when there are bodies, I always make the kick to the corner or the pocket pass,” the player remarked. Therefore, I believe it can be simple to just keep making the same plays over and over again when they are available to be made and you are surrounded by talented players. The game was tight, so I decided to take advantage of some of these opportunities to attack and score rather than passing the ball even though it might be a good opportunity to do so.
And he did, with the Bucks trailing 102-99 at the 9:28 point in the game when he checked in with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
From that point on, Lillard scored seven straight points and finished with 11 points on five of seven shots for the game.
“Man, this season is long.” he remarked. “So many different kinds of games will be available; some where you can play well as an individual player and others where teams perform well. They did a good job tonight, I think. And since this is the NBA, we can’t be in here thinking, “Oh my God, why are we playing the Spurs?” They are able to play. They have participated in numerous such games. But I believe that’s the reason I’m here.
At the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday, January 1, 2024, during the first half of the Milwaukee Bucks’ game against the Indiana Pacers, 34-year-old forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scores a basket.
At the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday, January 1, 2024, during the first half of the Milwaukee Bucks’ game against the Indiana Pacers, 34-year-old forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scores a basket.
Khris Middleton engages in his first consecutive game
Khris Middleton was asked if he would play against the Spurs on Thursday after the Bucks’ Wednesday night loss to Indiana. This would be the first time this season that he has appeared in back-to-back games.
He laughed, as he usually does, and said the team would inform everyone. When Middleton did not show up on the injury report and did play, the Bucks took advantage of the opportunity to play their 30th game against San Antonio and their 10th game in a row.
Middleton looked nimble, and Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin stated the team would watch how she handled the increased workload and the Spurs. On the offensive end, he dribbled his way into the paint and, on the defensive end, he hustled his way through screens.
In the end, he played fifteen minutes in the first half, scoring twelve points on five of eight shots while dishing out five assists. Middleton
Regarding his typical first-half workload, Middleton remarked, “That helped me out a lot through this game, or the first half at least.” “I felt good that whole first half. This being my first back-to-back — I think Jon (Horst) told me in a year and a half, which is crazy — I’m happy about where I’m at. I’m happy I was able to be out here on the second night of a back-to-back feeling pretty good.”
A highlight was a signature, baseline 14-footer that went over Wembanyama’s outstretched hand.
“Kind of. With a guy like that, that is a great shot-blocker with a lot of length, it’s hard to score over a guy like that. It is a challenge to say ‘let me get one over him.’ I don’t think I took it personally. I was looking at a couple different actions on that play that didn’t happen and the last result was the pull-up jump shot. So, I took it, I probably put a little bit more on there than I had to, but I did it just to be safe.”
But that was his last game as Pat Connaughton took his place to begin the second half.
“He played a half of a game on his first back-to-back, let’s see how he feels in the morning. It wasn’t something we were going to go into the game like he’s going to only play this (many minutes). We just wanted to play him, see how he responded and I think he’s in a good place and we want to keep him in a good place and then we’ll just see how he’s feeling in the morning.”
The 32-year-old all-star, who had been limited to minutes at the start of the season, made progress toward reaching the 30-minute mark on December 7th, despite the fact that it wasn’t a complete game. It was April 7-8, 2022; he hadn’t played back-to-back games since.
This season, Middleton has only missed five games, four of which were back-to-back contests.
Middleton played with Antetokounmpo and Lillard for the 27th time on Thursday; all three have been available and healthy for the majority of the season. Only two games have Lillard missed, and Antetokounmpo one.
The Bucks have a great opportunity to keep developing chemistry around their top offensive players as Middleton looks to be healthy for the next six back-to-back games. Prior to this, the trio had only played the ninth-most minutes of any three players on the team. They had an impressive offensive rating of 126.9, or points scored per 100 possessions, going into San Antonio.
The trio’s defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) was 112.6.
Encouraged by the increase in Middleton’s playing time, the Bucks scored 131.5 points per game on average in December, making it the fourth-highest scoring month ever and the highest scoring December in league history.
“Building this team is something we need. Giannis and Dame had to play. Dame had to have a game with Khris and Giannis. It’s been fantastic. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but I love how we’re coming together. Still needs to work on finding our chemistry and getting along. However, I believe that December saw our greatest offensive output, so we’re making progress and just need to keep improving.
More: Khris Middleton of the Bucks talks about overcoming his worst year and coming back
Five digits
The Bucks had a 4-1 record in the back-to-back game. They only lost once, to the Pacers, on November 9.
Eight total blocks between Brook Lopez (3) and Victor Wembanyama (5), the two best shot-blockers in the NBA. With 104 total swats, Lopez leads the league, while Wembanyama is in second place with 96.
Lopez stated, “It was definitely exciting going against him. It was a great barometer for us, but just to get a chance to see him play, play against him, it was a lot of fun. He’s just so talented. He can do everything. He really guards, too, plays hard. It was definitely exciting. I’m so impressed after seeing what he could do out there. It was really cool.”
Bucks record after one quarter, when leading or tied, is 17-2. With all eight of the Bucks who participated in the game scoring, they led the Spurs 38–31 at the half. Milwaukee had a 13-point lead in the first few minutes. They lost to the Pacers (ahead 29–27) in the In-Season Tournament on December 7 and again on January 1 (ahead 32–25).
Victor Wembanyama’s age on his birthday, which is Thursday, is 20. In his first 29 NBA games as a teenager, he scored 548 points, which is the fourth-highest total for a teenager in NBA history during that time period, behind Carmelo Anthony (551), LeBron James (575), and Kevin Durant (585). Giannis Antetokounmpo began 2013 with 29 games played and 196 points scored.
The NBA fined the Brooklyn Nets $100,000 for playing against the Bucks on December 27 in New York City in violation of the league’s new player participation policy. The Nets’ bench held it close until the fourth quarter, despite the Bucks’ 144-122 victory.
The NBA said in a statement that four Nets rotation players who did not play in the game could have played if they had met the medical requirements outlined in the Player Participation Policy, which was implemented before this season. This was the conclusion of an investigation that also included a review by an independent physician. The Policy, which is meant to encourage player participation in the NBA’s 82-game season, was broken by the organization’s actions.
Player of the Month for the Eastern Conference is Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo won NBA player of the month for the tenth time in his career. With his performance in December, the 29-year-old set a franchise scoring record for the most points in a single game against Indiana, as the league revealed on Thursday. There were also single-game records for free throws attempted (32) and made (24) in that match. Het established the franchise career rebounding record on December 17.
On December 19, he recorded a career-high 16 assists, and seven times in the month, he scored 30 points or more on 60% shooting, which was a league high. The Bucks were 11-2 as a team.
Damian Lillard and Giannis lead the first NBA all-star fan vote.
The NBA has once again altered its all-star lineup, returning to rosters from the Eastern and Western Conferences. With 2,171,812 fan votes, Antetokounmpo leads all frontcourt players in the East.
The only player lagging behind Lillard in the guards fan voting is Oshkosh native and Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is in his first season in the conference. During his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard was named to seven all-star teams.
With 1,380,795 votes, Haliburton would play in the All-Star Game on his home court. Lillard possessed 955,751.
In an all-star three-point competition, Malik Beasley hopes to compete.
The shooting guard for the Bucks is shooting 46.8% from three-point range going into Thursday night’s game, which is by far a career-best through 32 games. It is good for third place in the NBA, behind Aaron Nesmith of Indiana (47.5%) and Kevin Durant of Phoenix (47.7%).
Beasley declared, “It’s been one of my best years, consistently.” “I believe there have been years when I get hot and then I go 2-for-8 or 2-for-10 in certain games. I believe that having guys on the floor with me makes things easier. Since the shot is in the corner, I’ve never been happier to get there. Simply maintaining my routine, hitting my targets, working even on days when I don’t feel like it, and staying healthy.
Ray Allen’s record of 12 games with five or more three-pointers is definitely in jeopardy as he is currently tied with Brook Lopez for the most such games (nine).
In the 2018–19 season, Middleton was the final Bucks player to take part in the three-point competition. He participated in the 2015–16 competition as well. Allen took part in three competitions, emerging victorious in 2001. The Bucks also fielded Eric Murdock (1994) and Craig Hodges (1986–88) in the competition.
