Somebody needed to win Friday night time on the Fiserv Discussion board, because the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves entered the sport on a four-game successful streak. Thankfully for the Bucks (23-12) they have been in a position to snap their streak with a 123-114 victory and enhance their residence document to 15-3. The Timberwolves fell to 16-20.
Listed below are some factors from the sport:
Say whats up, Joe Engels
Sure, Chris Middleton and Guru Vacation have been out and about on Friday. Sure, that will make it troublesome to attain a purpose and defend a participant like Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards.
However the Timberwolves have been with out basketball nice Carl Anthony Cities and three-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months Rudy Gobert. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez accessible, one would suppose the scales would have favored the Bucks.
Nonetheless, after a high-scoring first quarter, the Bucks acquired terribly chilly—like solely taking pictures 5 pictures chilly. Milwaukee was simply 1-for-14 from behind the three-point line in scoring simply 17 factors within the second half. And with Lopez sidelined with a nasty deal with, the Bucks have been outscored 30-26 within the paint within the first half.
Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis stored the Bucks to shut vary, after which within the third quarter, Joe Ingles put his mark on the sport.
The 35-year-old, who has performed in solely his sixth recreation since getting back from rehab because of a torn left anterior cruciate ligament in January, made a 39-point third quarter for the Bucks by going 3-for-6 (together with 2 triples) and scoring Eight factors.
He then opened the fourth quarter because the de facto level guard with Antetokounmpo benched and opened the interval with a 28-footer. Then Portis and Jevon Carter bucket three to assist the Bucks take a 99-89 lead.
Engels completed with season-highs for factors (14), assists (10) and rebounds (5) in a season-high 25 minutes.
Giannis Antikonmo continues his assault on the historical past books
Two nights after it was solely tenThe tenth participant in NBA historical past to attain not less than 40 factors, seize not less than 20 rebounds and have not less than 5 assists – Giannis Antetokounmpo did it once more Friday towards Minnesota with a 43-point, 20-rebound, 5-assist effort.
He joins Wilt Chamberlain (5 instances) and Elgin Baylor (as soon as) as the one gamers in NBA historical past to go 40-20-5 in consecutive video games and the primary time since Chamberlain in 1966. Pull down not less than 20 rebounds since he did it Moses Malone for Houston within the 1981-82 season.
It’s also the third time this season that Giannis Antetekounmo has scored 40 or extra factors in consecutive video games, and it was the second time he has achieved it up to now 12 days.
Oct. 22 vs. Houston: Oct. 44. 26 vs. Brooklyn: 43 dec. 19 in New Orleans: 42 December. twenty first in Cleveland: 45 dec. 28 in Chicago: 45 December. 30 towards Minnesota:
This was his seventh recreation with not less than 40 factors out of 30The tenth season recreation.
He did it 10 instances higher in 67 video games final season.
This yr’s complete already surpasses another season of his profession.
2020-21: 5 (61 matches) 2019-20: 3 (63) 2018-19: 6 (72) 2017-18: 4 (75) 2016-17: 1 (80)
What’s extra, Antetokounmpo recorded 16 Minnesota fumbles complete. He went 14-for-21 from the free throw line.
It is the way you begin…and finish
Timberwolves have a tendency to start out—and end—rapidly. They entered the sport because the No. 7 workforce scoring within the first quarter (30.3 factors a recreation) and the No. 7 workforce within the fourth quarter (27.7).
Defensively, the Bucks are 11The tenth in opposition scoring within the first quarter (28.0) and #8 scoring protection within the fourth quarter (25.9) — though they struggled in these areas throughout their four-game dropping streak (33.8 factors within the first quarter and 30.0 factors within the fourth) .
With out their large males, the Timberwolves tried to get out, run, and assault the Bucks greats within the paint—and managed to attain 20 of their 34 first-quarter factors within the paint. The Bucks managed to maintain up considerably, scoring 30 targets of their very own.
The Bucks had horrible taking pictures within the second quarter (17 factors) after which hit some three within the third to attain 39 factors and take an 89-83 lead going into the ultimate body.
Play by Engels and a few three-pointers from Grayson Allen and AJ Inexperienced helped lengthen their result in 105-89 early within the fourth quarter and the Bucks outscored the Timberwolves 34-31 within the remaining interval to stop the guests from coming again once more. .
5 numbers
5 The video games the Large Three have performed collectively this season. They’re 3-2 in these matches. Final season, the workforce was 37-10 when the trio have been on the courtroom collectively and simply 14-21 when a number of gamers missed a recreation.
13 He missed three consecutive Bucks throws from the top of the primary quarter into the second earlier than Ingles hit one with 1:21 left within the first half. At that time, they have been 2 for 20 (10%). They completed the half 3-for-22 (13.6%).
14-12 The Bucks’ document for the reason that begin of the yr is 9-0.
20 Double-doubles of the yr for Bobby Portis after he scored 22 factors and pulled down 14 rebounds. It was the sixth time he had scored not less than 20 and had not less than 10 rebounds.
21 Complete video games missed by Bucks gamers with non-COVID sicknesses and well being and security protocol.
Mike Bodenholzer acknowledged that sicknesses made it troublesome to place collectively a wholesome workforce.
“I suppose, perhaps each workforce to some extent, is coping with it – I do know (Rudy) Gobert confirmed up this present day in all probability because of sickness. However simply to give attention to us, yeah, we missed a number of video games. And there are some video games the place the gamers simply do not play correctly. Good or they begin going off after which the following day or morning he wakes up and you are like yeah, he is sick. I feel these issues hopefully run these stretches, after which hopefully we will have a very long time with out them. However it positive was one thing we needed to take care of.” .
extra:The nice, the dangerous and the bizarre of 2022 for the Milwaukee Bucks
extra:A tough schedule and roster ups and downs spotlight a tough December for the Bucks
Khris Middleton didn’t endure a setback because of a knee harm
Friday was the seventh straight recreation Khris Middleton has missed because of what was listed as proper knee ache, and it has been greater than two weeks since he final performed on Dec. 15 towards Memphis. Middleton instructed The Journal Sentinel on Dec. 25 that “some small little issues” occurred with the knee after he returned from wrist surgical procedure on Dec. 2, and that he developed swelling in his knee. However after he was upgraded to suspect standing over an harm report on Boston’s Christmas Day, he is been dominated out ever since.
He did some work in follow on Tuesday.
There was no setback for Middleton, Budenholzer stated, and added that the all-three-time star can also be coping with an sickness.
“He is choosing it up from each path he can,” Budenholzer stated earlier than the sport towards Minnesota. “It is undoubtedly slower than anticipated, slightly completely different schedule than anticipated, however nonetheless, I feel we hope it is short-term.”
The play of the sport is Giannis’ English lube joe
Engels and Antetokounmpo carried out the decide and roll early within the second quarter, discovering Engels Antetokounmpo with a pleasant dunk. And whereas the play is a Bucks staple as Antetokounmpo rolls to the rim – it is a play that requires really feel and timing and Ingles nonetheless works his manner into the turnover. He talked about how he did not get off in time to Chicago’s Antetokounmpo, so if something it is a signal of elevated consolation for Ingles.
Sport video is anthony edwards block on giannis
Late within the second quarter, the Timberwolves have been main 50-42 when Anthony Edwards fouled Antetokounmpo across the three-point line with some bodily protection. Antetokounmpo objected, being awarded a technical foul – adopted by a technical foul on Budenholzer. D’Angelo Russell made two free throws to make it 52-42, organising the following play. Antetokounmpo drove the move and put in a layup, however Edwards closed and flew in for a blocked shot. Russell surrounded the free ball and pushed the ball up the sector earlier than main by three and 55-42.
Greenback harm report
- Trip (non-COVID sickness), overseas
- Middleton (proper knee ache), out
- George Hill (non-COVID illness), out
Who does Pax play subsequent?
The 2023 Bucks will open by internet hosting the Washington Wizards on Sunday, January 1 at 7 p.m. The Wizards are close to the underside of the Jap Convention, however have three 20-point-per-game scores in Bradley Bell (23), Kristaps Borzies (21) and Kyle Kuzma (21) . Rui Hachimura can also be a menace from the bench.