If the Bucks are off to the best start, Jonas Valanciunas is the talk of the town in the first quarter. The Lithuanian pivot scored 15 of his team’s 27 points but it was the Bucks who took an 11-point lead behind an 8-0 personal Giannis Antetokounmpo in the first 90 seconds of the second period (38-27).
Valanciunas then gives a layer. He completes his 3/5 from 3-pointers in the first quarter with a 3/3 to put the Pelicans back in the game (46-43). It is also thanks to their collective outside address that Willie Green’s men cling on while Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks dictate their law near the circle (66-61). At the break, the Greek has 26 points against 28 for the Lithuanian!
The Pelicans cling as best they can but like a technical foul whistled at a Zion Williamson frustrated by Milwaukee’s defensive scheme, they end up letting go. After Valanciunas, it’s Brook Lopez’s turn to shine with a 3/3 from afar to put the Bucks at +15 (100-85). The gap even reached 18 lengths thanks to a 10-2 led by Antetokounmpo to open the last quarter (110-92).
The burst of pride of the Pelicans comes thanks to the awakening of Williamson and the found address of CJ McCollum. They pass a 22-7 to their opponent and the Smoothie King Center is under pressure (117-114). The Bucks aren’t panicking though. Brook Lopez comes to the aid twice to stop Zion as Jrue Holiday instigates a 7-0 that decides the outcome of the match. The Bucks begin their five-game road trip with a deserved win.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The long-awaited duel: Antetokounmpo against… Valanciunas! We were all rubbing our hands at the idea of seeing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson do battle but the Bucks defense decided otherwise / So it was Jonas Valanciunas who took up the challenge presented by the Greek. Antetokounmpo tormented the Pelicans, attacking the opponent’s racket without difficulty and relentlessly to finish with 71% success while causing foul after foul to go on the line 22 times! Valanciunas tried everything to resist him, scoring 28 of his 37 points in the first half, and making the powder speak with a magnificent 7/10 from afar. The Lithuanian became the second player in the history of the Pelicans (DeMarcus Cousins, 2 times) compiled 37 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 rebounds!
– Zion Williamson struggling against the Milwaukee defense. This season, Zion is 25 points per game on 63% 2-point success. The Pelicans star is normally unplayable when attacking the circle, except the Milwaukee defense was up for the challenge. The Bucks have alternated between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday as main defenders on the former Duke and they’ve also switched to reverse pick-and-rolls that usually allow Williamson to attack fullbacks. Facing Holiday or Matthews, Williamson had a little more trouble, and when he made the difference, Brook Lopez was there in the second curtain to contest his shots. After three quarters, he had taken only 6 shots. He finished the game with 18 points at 43% success and five loose balls.
– Joe Ingles’ debut with the Bucks. Absent from the field since his serious left knee injury on January 30, Joe Ingles made his big comeback last night. After almost 11 months without playing, the Australian appeared rusty, missing his 4 shots and losing 3 balls. Once he gets his legs and rhythm back, he could become another designer for Mike Buddenholzer in support of Antetokounmpo, Middleton, and Holiday.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek was dominant all evening, scoring 42 points at 12/17 on shots! The Pelicans never managed to slow him down, sending him to the free throw line 22 times. Antetokounmpo also took 10 rebounds.
✅ Brook Lopez – Jonas Valanciunas. The two pivots gave us a recital tonight. The Buck finished with 30 points at 4/9 from 3-point range and the win, while the Lithuanian scored 37 points at 7/10 from three-point range, tying his record 3-pointer in a game. He also took 18 rebounds and delivered 5 assists!
✅ Jrue Holiday. The Bucks point guard was as often fair in attack with 18 points and 11 assists, and impressive in defense.
✅ CJ McCollum. The former Blazer has also blackened the stats sheet with 31 points, 11/24 on shots, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds. His 6/10 from long range kept the Pelicans in ambush for a long time.
✅ ⛔Zion Williamson. As mentioned above, the Pelicans star suffered in defense of the Bucks. He still scored 9 of his 18 points in the last quarter. He also had 7 assists and 7 rebounds.
⛔ The Pelicans bench. With only 11 points, the substitutes for the Pelicans, who have performed well this season, have come through tonight.
THE FOLLOWING
Milwaukee (22-8) : the Bucks continue Wednesday in Cleveland.
New Orleans (18-12): the Pelicans host the Spurs on Thursday.
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