With key playoff implications at stake, the Milwaukee Bucks came away with a gut-wrenching loss versus the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
A mere night after officially locking down a playoff berth, the Milwaukee Bucks set the tone for their impending trip to the postseason by getting edged out by the lowly Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night, losing 119-111.
The Nets came out hot to start the night by launching away and knocking down attempts from deep in the night’s opening few minutes. The Bucks eventually sprung to action not long after, but not enough to significantly cut into the Nets’ lead as they trailed 30-24 after one.
That pattern carried over into the second quarter, but fortunately, the Bucks were able to break through to hold a 36-35 lead at the 6:47 mark of the period.
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However, it proved to be fleeting as the Nets answered back, leading them to finish out the second on a 17-9 run to lead 52-45 heading into halftime.
The same story played out as we switched over to the third quarter with the Nets keeping their control of the game at arm’s length of the Bucks.
Once again, the Bucks were able to sneak past the Nets with a key run in the latter stages of the period, but the Nets promptly countered by taking an 83-81 lead going into the fourth and final quarter.
With the majority of the frame being a tightly contested one, the Bucks provided a glimmer of hope by taking a 103-100 lead at the 5:37 mark of the fourth. But for the final time of the night, the Nets negated the Bucks’ momentum by sinking a succession of three-pointers and converting free throws when sent to the line to put the finishing touches on their win.
So without further ado, let’s take a deeper look at what stood out in the Bucks’ loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.