NBA Summer League: Bucks Fall to Nets, 91-97

We had 20.7% shooting on 53 3-point attempts, 67 free throw attempts and 37 turnovers...yes folks, that’s the smell of Summer League in the air, and your Milwaukee Bucks dropped a drawn-out contest 91-97 against the Brooklyn Nets.

We had a typically sloppy start to this one, with turnovers galore, mad scrambles and a 1-13 combined performance from deep to start as the Nets took a 24-16 lead after one. The second period was a looong one, with the slopfest getting a side helping of foul as a whistley tune rung out across the arena. Eventually, it finished up with Milwaukee down 43-48 at half due to a late Nwora triple. Milwaukee pulled closer in the third within 71-73 as the fourth quarter started. The Bucks couldn’t quite get over the hump as they took the L. Nwora led all scorers with 22 points on 26 (!) shot attempts, including 1-11 from deep.

On “Bucks Do Vegas Watch,” we got to see Mike Budenholzer and George Hill chopping it up in the stands in this one, a happy sight for all Milwaukee fans with their reunion afoot this upcoming season. Plus, Thanasis Antetokounmpo made an appearance!

Milwaukee next plays on Friday at 3:00 pm Central against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Players that Stood Out

Sandro Mamukelashvili - I continue to enjoy his horizontal vertical leap and his operating in transition resulted in a swell first quarter slam. His usual bumping and grinding style resulted in a few more blocks and a driving dunk that showed the most hops I’ve seen out of him. This one was also around Alize Johnson, who got some NBA minutes last year even. I think my favorite play might’ve actually been his quick diagnosis of a left side double team, where he leaped to contort his body and hit a cutting Brandon Randolph, who was rudely blocked.

Jordan Nwora - It was nice to see him finish around contact at the rim several times in this game; I’m curious if he can ever get enough strength to try and finish through folks. He’s far more finesse than force right now. His third quarter reverse lay-in showed plenty of his fancy play though, and he remained the engine of Milwaukee’s offense. Volume shooter might not do him justice right now...

Georgios Kalaitzakis - He spent his first game with the MIlwaukee Bucks summer league squad after inking a three-year deal earlier Wednesday afternoon. He didn’t shower himself in glory on his first potential touch, mishandling an underhand pass from Mamu as it caromed out of bounds. He rebounded though with his first points on free throws late in the first period and later completing an and-one. He can handle the ball a bit too, but definitely has some trepidations shooting. He wound up leaving the game late after landing on his hip.

Mamadi Diakite - The second year player’s day was cut dramatically short when he flung his arms off a Jordan Nwora free throw and slapped a Nets player’s face. He was ejected after 12 minutes and capturing four personal fouls.