Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 106-104 win over Timberwolves

Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 106-104 win over Minnesota Timberwolves

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 01: Kelan Martin #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves blocks a shot by Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on January 01, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 01: (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Hosting a block party

While the Bucks’ offense was far from firing on all cylinders, the same couldn’t be said for their play on the defensive end.

Milwaukee gradually matched the level of the scrappy defending the Wolves entered the night with, all of which established the tone for the grind-it-out affair. And there was no better example of the enforcing work they did on that side of the ball than their protecting of the paint and the basket overall.

It was Brook Lopez who spearheaded the Bucks’ block party for the night as he accounted for half of the team’s 12 blocks for the tilt, which is the second-highest amount of blocks for a game this season. All off that led to the Bucks limiting the Wolves to just 32 points in the paint, the fourth-lowest amount of paint points they’ve surrendered to an opponent this season.

Of course, that only plays to the strengths and schematics of the Bucks’ defensive scheme and it’s Lopez, in particular, who continues to show how important he is to the top-ranked defense in the league this season.

Next. Ersan Ilyasova has never been better. dark

Next for the Bucks will be a meeting versus the San Antonio Spurs, which will take place Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. central time tip off.

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