Milwaukee Bucks: Analyzing regular season series against Detroit Pistons
By Adam McGee
Bucks 107, Pistons 104 – Dec. 17, Little Caesars Arena
When the Bucks and Pistons matched up for the second time on the season, it led to what was comfortably the most competitive game of the regular season series between the two.
If it wasn’t for a missed Blake Griffin three-pointer at the death, the Pistons may even have had a chance to secure a sole win against Milwaukee in the additional period.
Instead, Detroit failed to take full advantage of yet another game where Antetokounmpo lived in foul trouble, specifically allowing Antetokounmpo to tear them apart in the moments when he was on the floor.
Giannis’ tally of 32 points on 15-of-21 shooting, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in just 31 minutes of action is exceptional, even by the exceedingly high standards of the MVP-in-waiting.
Detroit’s inability to pull through for a win on a night when they received 20-point games from Stanley Johnson and Reggie Bullock (both of whom are no longer with the Pistons) is a pretty damning indictment of their status in this matchup.
Blake Griffin even logged a quadruple-double, albeit an unwanted one as 10 turnovers made up for one of those columns.
Along with the final game of the season between the pair, the Pistons can at least take solace from the fact they were much more competitive at home than on the road. Just how much weight can be placed on that when you were swept is a different discussion, though.