Rapid Recap: Bucks 110, Wizards 103

For a game featuring a Delly fracas and Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving late with five fouls, Milwaukee Bucks fans should be ecstatic they were able to take down the Washington Wizards on the road, 110-103. After one quarter, Milwaukee trailed Washington 32-24 despite Giannis doing yeoman work at the basket for seven points. The Bucks were able to close the gap with a late flurry of points in the second quarter though, tying it up at 53 all heading into halftime. Washington took advantage of some forceful offense for Milwaukee as the Bucks then trailed 85-82 after three. The fourth quarter featured plenty of back-and-forth, but the combined might of Giannis and Eric Bledsoe burying buckets was enough to seal the deal for the Bucks.

Giannis did everything in his power to enforce his will tonight, going for 34 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block on the night with a superb all-around performance. He wasn’t too commanding of the ball, but made hay at the free throw line hitting 9-10. Foul trouble plagued him tonight too, as he was pulled to the bench partway through the fourth after picking up a silly fifth foul, but he made up for it with three clutch jumpers down the stretch.

It was back to usual with his scoring partners tonight too, as Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton picked up the slack. Bledsoe went for 21 points while Middleton tallied [stat 20 of his own. Props to Tony Snell too, who took his demotion to the bench this evening with his usual blank stare before pouring home 10 points.

For Washington, it was a balanced attack as all starters hit double figures tonight. Bradley Beal was the high man with 20 points, albeit on just 7-19 shooting. John Wall had just 16 points but matched his point total with a season-high 16 assists. Marcin Gortat feasted down low for 17 of his own.

Stat that Stood Out

Jason Kidd severely shortened his rotation tonight, almost making it look like a playoff game out there. Just eight players found their way onto the court for the Bucks tonight, partially because there was no blowout of course. However, Washington going with just nine gave this game a pretty fascinating feel, even if that feel was one of ugly offense at times. Regardless, it goes to show how Milwaukee can play when its best players are given maximum run.