Rapid Recap: Bucks 130, Timberwolves 105

The game was moved up to the afternoon, but even in a dreaded midweek matinee the Milwaukee Bucks thrashed the Minnesota Timberwolves, 130-105.

NBA.com Box Score

Neither team was particularly well-tuned at the beginning of the game, but the Bucks were able to talent their way into an early lead. Once again, Giannis Antetokounmpo was in street clothes, but Minnesota was also missing Karl-Anthony Towns, allowing the Bucks’ superior supporting cast to wrest control of the game in their favor. Milwaukee led by 5 at the start of the second quarter, where fans were grateful to see PJ Tucker finally reenter the rotation after a 10-game absence with a calf injury. The second quarter started just as sloppily as the first, with turnovers and missed shots (particularly inside the arc) punctuating the relatively few stretches of competent play on either side. Still, Milwaukee continued to execute and ended up carrying a big lead into halftime, 61-44.

The Bucks quickly opened that lead to 23 in the opening minute of the third and entered the final period up 106-79 thanks to a 45-point quarter. Briefly touching a 30-point lead, Mike Budenholzer emptied his bench before the 8 minute mark as Milwaukee cruised to a 25-point victory.

Stat That Stood Out

Not much to report from blowouts like this, so let’s go with 10: the number of minutes PJ Tucker played after missing 10 games with a calf strain. He’s played just 44 minutes since being traded to Milwaukee and with the regular season entering its final stretch, there isn’t a lot of runway for him acclimate to his new club. He may not see the court at all tomorrow in Atlanta.

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