Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways From Loss To Denver Nuggets

Feb 3, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone talks with referee Bill Kennedy (55) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 121-117. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone talks with referee Bill Kennedy (55) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 121-117. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 3, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) during the first half at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) during the first half at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Jabari And Giannis Showing Signs Of Life

For the first time since the Bucks picked up their most recent win against the Rockets, Giannis and Jabari both managed to score over 20 points each on Friday.

Perhaps even more important considering some of the rumblings and speculation that has fueled fans since word of that now infamous team meeting emerged, the pair combined nicely on a couple of important second half scores, before going out of their way to acknowledge each other.

Jabari was the more assertive of the two, providing a big 27 points that allowed the Bucks to at least have a chance of stealing a win down the stretch. Although Parker will be disappointed with his 2-7 shooting from deep, his 10-20 from the field overall is nothing to be ashamed of.

Giannis will be particularly disappointed to have counteracted his five assists with the same number of turnovers, but he also has a legitimate gripe at some of the calls that didn’t go his way down the stretch. A particularly egregious non-call on a drive to the basket was even enough to earn Jason Kidd a technical foul for complaining.

A combined 50 points, 19 rebounds and nine assists from Milwaukee’s young stars ensured this wasn’t another one of the blowouts that have plagued the team recently, but they’ll need to combine for more performances of this ilk to turn the season around.