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Bucks lose fourth straight, falling to Grizzlies, 122-99

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2 weeks ago

November 1, 2024

Bucks lose fourth straight, falling to Grizzlies, 122-99

MEMPHIS – The Milwaukee Bucks concluded their first street journey of the season with an 0-3 mark and misplaced their fourth straight recreation, 122-99, to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday evening at FedExForum.

Memphis (3-3), taking part in on the second evening of a back-to-back and with out a number of injured rotation gamers, went on a 19-1 run from the middle-to-end of the primary quarter to take management of the sport. They by no means actually regarded again from there, sending the Bucks again residence to Milwaukee at 1-4 on the yr.

The Bucks host the unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers (5-0) on Saturday.

MORE: Field rating | Bucks schedule | NBA standings

“Dropping, it’s irritating,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo stated. “However we’re doing the appropriate issues. Like (Wednesday) evening we arrived in Memphis and we got here collectively as a crew, watched movie. Not as eight, 9 guys that play. We watched movie, we discuss, like what can we do higher? What we’re not doing nearly as good, let’s maintain each other accountable. We’re doing the appropriate factor.

“Coming (Thursday) in shootaround and speaking about it, speaking about our offense, speaking about our protection. Everyone is doing the appropriate factor. I see it in all people’s eyes. They’re keen to do the appropriate factor to win video games and typically it’s not going to go your method.

“That is a part of the season it’s not going our method. However, dropping two, dropping three, dropping 4, dropping 5, dropping six in row; dropping one, it’s all the time irritating. However, once more, my dad used to say, ‘why do (you) whine for those who’re not going to surrender?’ So I’m not going to surrender.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 37 factors on 17-of-22 capturing, together with 11 rebounds. Brook Lopez (12 factors) and Bobby Portis Jr. (11) had been the one others in double figures.

The Grizzlies had seven gamers attain double figures whereas the regulars had been within the recreation. Ja Morant had a triple-double.

“We’re gonna determine this out ultimately,” Bucks middle Brook Lopez stated. “Clearly it will be higher, it will be better, it’s gonna work out higher for us in the long run if we determine it out sooner, however we’re gonna be in a distinct crew in March. Clearly we would like that to finish up occurring sooner, however once more, we all know what we’re able to. We all know who we’re. It’s simply gonna proceed to be crucial that we maintain coming collectively, maintain working collectively, maintain trusting.”

Extra:The Bucks decided on the way forward for MarJon Beauchamp on Thursday

Bucks haven’t any reply for Grizzlies

Not each recreation this yr, particularly this early within the season, must be a referendum on the place the Bucks will be down the road. However the video games are being performed they usually depend, and Thursday’s contest in Memphis did imply one thing.

Particularly within the context of when the sport was performed, and by whom.

The Grizzlies had been on the second evening of a back-to-back, and misplaced starters Desmond Bane and Marcus Sensible to harm in a loss on Wednesday. Sure, famous person guard Ja Morant and 2023 Defensive Participant of the 12 months Jaren Jackson Jr. had been accessible – however six gamers weren’t.

The Bucks had two days off and a observe since dropping their third straight in Boston on Monday, with each key participant exterior of Khris Middleton accessible.

With unsatisfactory losses to Chicago and Brooklyn on Oct. 25 and 27, respectively, dropping to a diminished and weary Memphis crew could be removed from splendid.

Sadly for the Bucks the sport on Halloween was a chilling echo from Feb. 15, which was a nasty 113-110 loss to the – you guessed it – shorthanded Grizzlies in Memphis. That crew didn’t have Morant, Jackson Jr., Bane and Sensible and nonetheless beat the Antetokounmpo- and Lillard-led Bucks in Doc Rivers’ 10^th recreation as head coach simply earlier than the all-star break.

This time, behind Morant and reserve guard Scotty Pippen Jr., the Grizzlies out-ran the Bucks. And being one of many few groups that may match Milwaukee’s dimension, Memphis was in a position to seal and rebound the numerous Bucks misses, which helped them get out and run in transition. The Grizzlies additionally saved up the tempo within the half-court, with sharp off-ball motion.

“We knew that they appreciated to assault from the slots, we knew they reduce out the corners and it appeared like we had been caught abruptly by a variety of that stuff,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard stated. “The tempo that they performed at, how briskly they had been transferring, we had been only a step gradual they usually had that each one evening.”

Milwaukee took extra photographs than Memphis (89 to 76) as a result of the Bucks did not flip it over an irregular quantity (7) they usually weren’t overwhelmed on the offensive glass (8 second likelihood factors) when the regulars had been in — two huge points for the Bucks in earlier losses. However they only missed too typically, which performed into the Grizzlies’ benefit in pace.

And there have been even instances when after a made shot the Grizzlies launched the ball excessive of the Bucks, scoring simply in opposition to a porous protection.

“It’s self-discipline. Interval,” Rivers stated of the Bucks’ failings on getting again. “It’s on us to demand it extra, level it out extra, which we’re doing, and sooner or later there must be penalties for it. Simply too many instances they ran behind us right now, again and again. I imply, bigs working behind us for lobs. That simply can’t occur. It’s not like we don’t work on that day by day. However we’re not engaged on it nicely sufficient, as a result of if we had been they wouldn’t be doing it. Once more, I maintain going again to me. There’s one thing they’re not listening to that I’m telling ‘em, and I gotta do a greater job.”

Extra:Bucks will supply 5 ‘over-the-air’ recreation broadcasts on WMLW

Bucks chilly three-point capturing continues

Every week away from Fiserv Discussion board was not type to the long-distance capturing eyes of the Bucks, as they adopted a 10-for-33 (30.3%) displaying in Brooklyn on Sunday with an 8-for-31 (25.8%) capturing efficiency in Boston on Monday with an much more dreadful 8-for-38 (21.1%) when the regulars had been in Thursday evening.

They had been simply 4-for-26 from past the arc by the point they had been down 22 factors at 80-58 with 7 minutes, 28 seconds to go within the third quarter.

“Which may be the best make-miss evening ever,” Rivers stated. “I imply, I don’t suppose anyone would complain concerning the threes we had. They had been vast open. And I assumed we moved the ball and received nice photographs.”

Damian Lillard by no means received going in any respect and completed the sport 0-for-6 from deep. Fellow guard Gary Trent Jr. was was 0-for-7 on the evening from behind the three-point line and Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis Jr. mixed to go 4-for-11 from distance.

“We’re going to take a variety of these appears to be like each time and we have now the appropriate guys capturing them,” Lopez stated. “Most of our guys are the appropriate guys capturing them, too, it simply, they didn’t go in. And that’s the way in which it’s typically. We clearly all the time have to indicate up defensively and we gotta deal with transition. That’s one thing we’re going to maintain harping on all yr. However, I assumed we performed the appropriate method offensively for almost all of the evening.”

A few of these 30 misses weren’t even shut, both, with airballs sprinkled in with front- and back-iron misfires.

That downside begets one other, because the frequent misses – and the lengthy rebounds that ensued – helped the Grizzlies get out and run to beat the Bucks again in transition.

“However the defensive transition was nonetheless terrible tonight,” Rivers continued. “And, in order that’s on me. Like, every little thing’s on me till we get it proper. We’ve received to repair this.

“I assumed we performed with the appropriate spirit. We didn’t make photographs and also you’re gonna have nights like that, however on these nights we have now to discover a method to get stops. I don’t know what number of instances they superior the cross and beat us down the ground. They did it most likely eight to 10 instances on the few (photographs) we did make. Morant had a free cross tonight so far as driving and attacking. Now, he’s powerful for everyone and doubtless more durable for us, so we gotta do a greater job of determining learn how to comprise guards like that.”

5 numbers

4: Straight losses for the Bucks. They misplaced 4 in a row from April 2-7 final season below Doc Rivers and Dec. 21-28, 2022, below Mike Budenholzer. The final time the Bucks misplaced 5 in a row was from Feb. 10-18, 2021.

4: Factors for Bucks guard Damian Lillard, on 1 of 12 capturing. It matched the bottom point-total in a recreation for his profession, which he did thrice in Portland (twice in 2013 and as soon as in 2021). One of many recreation’s all-time nice scorers, it was simply the 17^th time in his profession he was held to below double-figures in scoring.

Lillard: “It’s arduous, as a result of I imply my complete profession I’ve all the time been anyone who, like, if I can do one factor I can take over. I can take over a recreation. I feel I’ve joined a brand new crew and my scenario is completely different and I perceive that it’s completely different, so I’ve to attempt to discover a method to not simply return to what I’ve all the time executed as a result of it’s most likely not all the time obligatory. Or most likely not obligatory in any respect. So I feel that’s most likely essentially the most troublesome half is when issues look like it’s getting uncontrolled or the going is getting powerful, I’m in a position to put my arms on it somewhat bit extra. I feel simply not likely being in that function is somewhat bit tougher. It’s extra of a course of to determine for me.”

3-for-8: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s mark from the free-throw line. The Bucks star has begun the season in a little bit of a rut on the line, as he got here in making simply 55% of his charity makes an attempt.

26-14-10: Factors, assists and rebounds for Memphis star Ja Morant. It was his first triple-double of the season and twelfth of his profession.

19-1 and 12-2: Runs by the Grizzlies within the first half that helped them take a 70-48 halftime lead. In these stretches the Bucks had been 1-for-12 from the ground and dedicated three turnovers. They had been the turning factors within the recreation as Memphis led 17-16 when the primary one started and 51-44 when the second began.

Extra:Milwaukee Bucks’ all-star Khris Middleton speaks on his restoration from double ankle surgical procedure

What channel is the Bucks recreation on?

The sport, which begins at 7 p.m. CT, might be aired regionally on FanDuel Sports activities Community Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the decision.

Is Giannis taking part in?

Sure. The MVP candidate has been possible to play with tendinitis in his proper patella because the season started.

Bucks starters

Guards: Damian Lillard, Gary Trent Jr.
Forwards: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Taurean Prince
Heart: Brook Lopez

Khris Middleton, out (surgical procedure on each ankles)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, possible (proper patella tendinitis)

Grizzlies harm report

Memphis has Ja Morant again wholesome, however he is one of many few for the house crew that’s taking part in on the second evening of a back-to-back.