Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 109-95 loss to Denver Nuggets

Mixed fortunes for seldom used players

With the Bucks’ marquee names not in action, there was real opportunity for many of the team’s more peripheral figures.

It wouldn’t be accurate to say any of those who wouldn’t have been in Bud’s thoughts at all managed to force their way into it with their performance on Monday, even though the effort and spirit shown was an overall positive. Still, there were some who performed better than others.

Sterling Brown is the player from that group who is likely closest to opportunity on a more regular basis, and his showing was certainly creditable considering he was asked to do a lot more than usual. Brown had to take on his share of ball-handling, which maybe weighed him down a little at times, but a final line of 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 3-of-8 shooting was certainly a positive factor in keeping the Bucks in the game.

Brown’s draft mate D.J. Wilson had a different experience on the night, even though his 10 points and nine rebounds on 4-of-10 shooting offered his game an air of box score respectability. In reality, though, Wilson had a number of cringe-worthy moments as he struggled to show any touch offensively, had a couple of notable lapses defensively, and was posterized by Jamal Murray with a vicious dunk which he was fortunate to see waved off.

For all of the Bucks’ depth, the back end of the roster is similar to what it is for every other team in the NBA.