The Bucks are definitely the most in-form team in the league since February. Tonight, in the midst of a back-to-back for both teams, both recently beaten by the Warriors, the Bucks had no trouble fending off the traveling Suns.
This victory still bears the mark of the giant Giannis Antetokounmpo who, deprived of his lieutenant Khris Middleton, was able to count on the fine outing of his pivot Brook Lopez, and the key contribution of a few “role players”. Top scorer of his team opposite, Devin Booker generally received less support than the Greek.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A big “money time”. The Bucks left the Suns very little in this game. The visitors were up to 16 points ahead (35-51) in the second quarter thanks to Giannis’ circle attacks and the spaces he generated for his shooters. Unskillful until then, Devin Boooker signed a big third quarter to bring Phoenix to the score (84-85). The locals even briefly regained the lead (95-92) but Milwaukee showed composure. Award-winning baskets from Jevon Carter, Pat Connaughton and Joe Ingles opened a big “run” in favor of the Bucks, where the Booker-Paul-Ayton trio was struggling to score. The Bucks went 24-9 in the final nine minutes to win.
– 50 wins and a playoff ticket. Milwaukee is the first team in the league to reach the symbolic bar of 50 wins and at the same time to compost its ticket for the playoffs. Barring a cataclysm, Mike Budenholzer’s men will thus improve their record from last season, during which they finished with 51 successes. It should be noted that their current winning percentage exceeds 70%, like their 2018/19 and then 2019/20 exercises. In 2021 the year of the title, they had won 64% of their games in the regular season.
– Devin Booker’s “trashtalk” on Jae Crowder. After returning a very complicated shot at the end of the third quarter against him, the Suns back went to say a word to his former teammate, Jae Crowder. The latter, who remained several months without playing in Phoenix while awaiting his transfer to Milwaukee, also addressed his ex-public after having returned a very important basket in the “money time”.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Giannis Antetokounmpo. Clumsy in the game in the fourth quarter and generally on the free throw line (14/24…), the Greek still finished as the best scorer, rebounder and passer in the game. He missed two assists for another triple-double.
✅ Brook Lopez. A lieutenant match for the pivot while Khris Middleton was on the sidelines and Jrue Holiday struggling with his shot, but still valuable in defense (like his forceful passage caused by Devin Booker at the end of the game). The interior recorded their 9th double-double of the season and confirmed their very good form: it was their 12th game in a row with 13 points or more.
✅ ⛔ Devin Booker. Phoenix matched his pace as the fullback woke his team up in the third quarter. He still had to try his luck 27 times to reach the 30 point mark, in addition to losing 5 balls. The defense of Jrue Holiday obviously has something to do with it.
⛔ Deandre Ayton. 16 points (8/19 only) and 8 rebounds of course, but the pivot of the Suns was sorely lacking in aggression towards the circle and did not obtain the slightest passage on free throws. A weak deterrent in defense and author of too many faults, he especially missed his five shots – good and open – in the fourth quarter which would have allowed Phoenix to get closer. His -15 +/-, the worst on his team, says a lot.
TORREY CRAIG LOST A TOOTH!
Responding to the physical challenge imposed by Giannis Antetokounmpo is not without risk. Torrey Craig found out the hard way last night when he was the victim of an involuntary nudge from the Greek. Result: a tooth picked up on the floor!
THE FOLLOWING
Suns (37-32) : reception of the Magic on Thursday.
Bucks (50-19) : reception of the Pacers on Thursday.
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