:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67191124/usa_today_14728887.0.jpg)
The Milwaukee Bucks are back in the win column, as they sank the Washington Wizards, 126-113.
Boy, was it an ugly start to this one. And I mean UGLY. Nobody could score to begin things. It’d be minutes before the Wizards even connected on a field goal. However, after many misses, things started to fall into place and both teams developed somewhat of a groove. After everyone regained their footing, the Bucks would use six points from Giannis Antetokounmpo to earn a 24-21 advantage.
Things would take a turn in the second quarter, as Antetokounmpo headbutted Mo Wagner during a break in the action. It resulted in his ejection from the game, and will likely warrant a suspension from the league. After the dust settled and basketball resumed, the Bucks used strong play from Sterling Brown to help build up a lead and headed into halftime with a 66-56 lead.
A 13-3 run out of the locker room would help pace the Bucks to start the third quarter off. No Khris Middleton and no Giannis Antetokounmpo provided minutes to the majority of the bench unit, and they looked nice taking advantage of the playing time. Rolling into the fourth quarter, the Bucks kept things under control at 99-84.
From there, it was easy and smooth sailing. The Wizards never got into territory to make things interesting, and the Bucks coasted to a 126-113 victory.
Stat That Stood Out
I could go with Brook here for his solid performance, but I’m opting to go a different route. With Khris Middleton out and following Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ejection from the game, the majority of the minutes of this one were delegated to Milwaukee’s bench. This provided ample opportunities for players to step up, and Sterling Brown took advantage of that. He’d finish with 23 points, including 5-of-8 from the 3-point line. It’ll be intriguing to see how much time Brown will receive next week once the playoffs begin. He likely won’t be a part of the rotation, but should there be foul trouble, there’s a chance he may see some action. With that being said, it was nice to see him catch a groove tonight in his 30 minutes played.