Bucks vs. Suns: Groundhog Day

The Milwaukee Bucks fell 106-108 to the Phoenix Suns and largely failed to execute (on both ends) late. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the Bucks’ top performer with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Brook Lopez added 23 points and 10 rebounds on efficient 8/14 shooting. Kevin Durant willed the Suns to victory with 38 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast Bucks In Six Minutes below.

What Did We Learn?

The Bucks played so-so for most of the game but found themselves in it with more than a puncher’s chance to win at the end of the game. However, Milwaukee’s execution in the final minute of the game was very bad, and that is the difference between winning and losing—especially without Dame. I really wish we didn’t seemingly have to go over the same stuff each game, but the “clutch” time problems continue to be an issue.

Three Crucial Plays Milwaukee Messed Up

The team’s inability to get a quality look with one minte to go.

Following Kyle Kuzma’s four-point play, the Bucks got an awesome stop on defence and were up 105-103 with 1:00 on the clock. All you can ask for is a good shot. The following play started slow and stagnant; Giannis was being denied and everyone was kind of just looking at each other. But as the very start of this clip (sort of, but not really) shows, GA screened for Rollins (with about nine seconds on the shot clock), who had Giannis wide open for the alley-oop. Ryan doesn’t throw it, and swings it to Gary Trent Jr. isolating on Oso Ighodaro; this does not go well, as you can imagine:

Gary Trent Jr.’s attempt at shooting the gap on the final Suns possession.

After KD hit a three and Lopez hit one free throw, the score was tied at 106 with 5.7 on the clock. The Suns ran a play with multiple options: KD getting a catch on the block, or Booker coming up off a “zipper cut”—which is a cut through the lane up towards the three-point line, usually accompanied by a down screen—to attack downhill. The Suns get it to Booker, and Gary Trent (who is a known gambler) tries to shoot the gap, meaning he got detached from Booker’s body going around the screen the wrong way. Lopez notices Trent is out of the picture and switches onto Devin Booker, who has a speed advantage on Brook, and Booker steps back for the easy mid-range shot. Trent’s decision to lose Booker’s body caused this chain reaction, and he must be smarter.

Milwaukee completely bungling the final play.

Down two points with 1.7 seconds on the clock, there is plenty of time to get a good shot. But Milwaukee’s horrible execution and timing completely ruined any chance of that. Here is the play:

I mean, your guess is as good as mine, but it seems like AJ might have been expected to screen for Giannis curling around and then pop out for his own look? Postgame, Doc said AJ “went too early and knocked Giannis off stride.” Regardless, this late-game offence thing has become a feature, not a bug.

Bonus Bucks Bits

Just a crazy game from Kuz. Defence was pretty decent again, but goodness me, the offence was rough. 5/16 and 2/7 from three. Seems like every time he tries to create off the dribble, it goes badly.
KPJ: 2/9. AJ Green: 1/5. TP: 1/5. Need more than that from the role guys.
There were 15 lead changes in the game.

Up Next

The Bucks finish out their road trip against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. Central. Catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, watch locally (specific channel information will be in the game preview), or stream it on our Playback and YouTube channels.

Luxury House