Milwaukee Bucks 2017-18 Season Review: Shabazz Muhammad
By Adam McGee
Muhammad’s game of the season
Although Muhammad scored a season-high 22 points against the Orlando Magic in the Bucks’ penultimate game of the season, his best and most impactful performance was likely his 21-point outing against the Chicago Bulls on March 23.
Not only did Muhammad produce an outstanding individual performance on this occasion in the United Center, but he did so in a game where the Bucks desperately needed someone to step up. The Bucks arrived in Chicago having lost two straight and three of their last four at a pivotal juncture of the season, and having already lost twice to the Bulls on the year, they were facing their rival without an injured Giannis Antetokounmpo.
That turned out to be insignificant as in just over 20 minutes, Muhammad produced 21 points on a remarkably efficient 9-of-12 from the field.
The former UCLA Bruin also added in five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block, equating to a +16 plus/minus in the box score in a game Milwaukee ultimately won by a margin of 13 points.
Along with producing an outstanding individual performance in his own right, Muhammad’s play acted as the catalyst for what proved to be the best bench performance of the season for Milwaukee.
With Tony Snell, Brandon Jennings and Jason Terry joining him with double-digit scoring tallies off the bench, and Thon Maker adding five points of his own, the Bucks’ bench crew combined for a season-high 70 points and outscored the starters by 22 points on the night.