Rapid Recap: Bucks 129, Nets 115

If you were looking for a hot-shooting night from deep, the Milwaukee Bucks were happy to oblige against the Brooklyn Nets in this 129-115 victory tonight. Milwaukee found another rough shooting start to the game, but managed to work their way back to a 29-23 lead by the game’s first quarter’s finish. The Net didn’t find any further kindness in the second, as Milwaukee pummeled them with 3-pointers to slice open a 71-52 advantage at halftime. The third quarter didn’t change much, as Milwaukee still maintained a 106-86 lead into the fourth. Despite a Brooklyn effort mounted in the final stanza, Milwaukee answered with plenty of jumpers to finish this one out.

Giannis Antetokounmpo looked efficient as all get out tonight, going for a casual triple double with 31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and three blocks. Brooklyn clearly had no answer for him tonight, even with a Jarrett Allen block, but all that mattered was his impressive footwork to decimate this Nets squad in the paint. He even nailed a few jumpers from deep and down the stretch.

Khris Middleton had a second straight solid game after his horrific slump, shooting 11-15 as he snagged 29 points and seven assists. Brook Lopez was a one-man wrecking crew, particularly from behind the arc (7-15) as he went off for 24 points. Malcolm Brogdon also added 18 points to the Bucks impressive point total.

Shabazz Napier was the high-man for the Brooklyn Nets this evening, going for 32 points despite starting on the bench. Another bench figure, Kenneth Faried, added 21 points and nine rebounds while Demarre Carroll had 18 points.

Stat that Stood Out

We expected the Bucks to take plenty of shots from behind the arc against Brooklyn, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. Their 51 3-point attempts tonight were their second most of the season. Ditto for their 3-point makes, as they flushed 21 through the net tonight from deep. It was quite refreshing to see a 41.2% night after several of their cold-shooting streaks from behind the line of late.