The Milwaukee Bucks managed to pull off a great comeback in Phoenix, led by Michael Carter-Williams and Khris Middleton.
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
At least the four game west coast road trip wasn’t a complete loss for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks, losers of three straight, came back from fifteen down to beat the Phoenix Suns 101-95.
In what was billed as a Brandon Knight “revenge” game, it was Michael Carter-Williams who did the most damage for either team.
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MCW’ tallied twenty points (9-16), nine rebounds, and six assists with just three turnovers. With the Bucks up just two with under ten seconds remaining MCW blocked an Eric Bledsoe bunny before coming up with an outright steal on the next possession to seal the victory.
It was the Buck’s first road victory in twelve attempts. But it didn’t necessarily come easy–especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo sitting with knee tendinitis.
After racing out to a 21-11 lead, the Bucks allowed the Suns to go on a 15-6 run to climb within one (27-26) at the end of the first quarter.
The Suns took the lead and widened that margin in the second quarter as they took advantage of a listless, road-weary Bucks team. T.J. Warren was the primary Bucks killer in the second quarter, scoring twelve points on 6-7 shooting in the period.
After a rocky start to the third quarter it looked like the Bucks were spiraling to a fourth straight loss and a lost season.
But the Bucks showed an unusual amount of grit, and stormed back into the game with a 15-2 run to close out the quarter with just a two point deficit.
They left the fourth period for Khris Middleton. His eleven fourth quarter points helped stabilized the Bucks, keeping the Suns from opening up an insurmountable lead.
Middleton’s heroics were joined by those of Rashad Vaughn, who’s pair of mid-quarter three pointers helped reel the Bucks back into the contest.
Both teams traded blows leading to a 95-all contest with :34 remaining.
And then the Bucks did what any sensible team would have done–hand it to the big man and let him go to work.
They were rewarded for their faith as Greg “Moose” Monroe whirled, twirled, and finished over Tyson Chandler giving the Bucks the lead for good.
In the end the Bucks snapped their road losing streak, notched their first victory in the black alternate unis, and (perhaps) showed the NBA world they might not have lost the “trade the future” deal after all.
Let’s take a closer look at the contest in our Milwaukee Bucks grades and reactions.
Next: Reactions: The Good