Rapid Recap: Bucks 108, Pelicans 115

Bourbon Street bested the Milwaukee Bucks tonight, as the New Orleans Pelicans play looked anything like smooth jazz, but still prevailed 115-108. Milwaukee was able to take a one point lead heading into halftime tonight, with their defense taking a limo-level backseat to their potent 129.1 offensive rating in the first half. Their 62 points given up to New Orleans was partially the product of an 8-14 (57.1%) shooting half from deep for the Pellies. With just a two point lead for New Orleans after three, this was due for a barn burner down the stretch. It stayed close to the end with some see-sawing of the lead, but New Orleans pulled ahead late as Milwaukee blew several opportunities to keep it narrow.

Milwaukee’s been on a tear of late, but two of those three wins were at home. A road win over a tough Pelicans team would’ve been a nice notch in the belt, but their interior depth just wasn’t up to the task tonight. Hopefully beating up on the Bulls, who have been hot since a freshly healed Nikola Mirotic returned, will give them some confidence back.

Giannis Antetokounmpo took up his usual Alpha mantle tonight as the primary scorer, even as his typical running mates went backwards tonight. With 32 points, nine rebounds, four assists and five steals notched for the evening, his usual all-around impact was felt in every facet of the game throughout his continually bloated minute count, 42 tonight.

Both Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton looked out of sorts tonight for the first time in a while. What’s been a spectacular scoring run for this big three came to a halt tonight, with Middleton ending at 15 points, 10 assists and five rebounds while Bledsoe had 14 points, five assists and four steals. There’s no real cause for concern given both of their hot shooting lately, but Middleton’s 5-19 night was mitigated somewhat by his creative passing at least.

The towering duo of Anthony Davis and Demarcus Cousins were the typical stalwarts for New Orleans this evening. Davis wound up with 25 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks after his status remained in question up to tipoff while Cousins spun, curled and bulldozed his way to 26 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

Stat that Stood Out

Milwaukee turned the ball over just 10 times for 17 points by the Pelicans. Meanwhile, New Orleans coughed it up 21 freakin’ times for just 24 points for the Bucks. On 10 turnovers by the Pellies in the second half, Milwaukee managed just 3 measly points. The Bucks were unable to keep capitalizing on the butterfingers of New Orleans all evening, and it curtailed what had been a stellar offensive night.