Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 123-111 win over Sacramento Kings
It takes two to take over
The Bucks clearly missed Giannis Antetokounmpo as they sought ways to come back and fend off the Kings going into the fourth quarter. Luckily, both Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton rose to the occasion.
First, it was Bledsoe who laid the foundation for the Bucks’ fourth quarter comeback as he came out firing by hitting a pair of threes in a matter of 43 seconds, all of which propelled the Bucks’ game-changing run to turn the tables on Sacramento.
A few minutes later and after the Kings woke up from their false start, it was Middleton’s time to carry the baton and lead the Bucks to victory and he did so hitting tough shots and capped it off with his fourth and final triple with just under three minutes to go. Both Bledsoe and Middleton accounted for 18 of the Bucks’ 35 total points throughout the final frame and it certainly tied a nice bow on both of their performances without the Bucks’ north star, so to speak.
Bledsoe had 28 points on 16 shots (3-for-4 from three, 5-for-6 from the foul line), eight rebounds as well as eight assists, two turnovers, one steal and was a +17 in nearly 32 and a half minutes. Middleton, meanwhile, also posted 28 points, though on 21 shots (4-for-8 from deep, 6-for-7 from the free throw line), 11 rebounds, eight assists, three turnovers, one steal and was a +8 in over 33 and a half minutes on the floor.
As the Bucks have continued to take care of business without Antetokounmpo in the mix, both Bledsoe and Middleton have been there to make sure there was no lapse without their superstar.