The Milwaukee Bucks finished out their brief preseason run with a 127-113 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans Friday night in the Crescent City.
The preseason was not kind to the retooled Milwaukee Bucks, as they went winless throughout their three-game stretch.
Following consecutive losses to the Dallas Mavericks at Fiserv Forum, the Bucks traveled South to square off against the New Orleans Pelicans in their preseason finale Friday night. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and D.J. Augustin sitting out, Milwaukee entered the game short-handed, which opened the window of opportunity for others to make a name for themselves.
More from Bucks News
- Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
- Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
- Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
- Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
- New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited
It was a game full of twists and turns for the Bucks, but they ended the night with a 127-113 defeat.
Still, there is plenty to discuss, and without further ado, here are three takeaways from Milwaukee’s preseason finale down in New Orleans.
Takeaway No. 3 – Sam Merrill shows potential in limited minutes
Sam Merrill saw limited action throughout the Bucks’ three preseason games, but he showed promise in Friday night’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Merrill went 2-for-4 from the field, with both of his makes coming from behind the arc. In addition to his two triples, Merrill connected on a technical free throw to round out his total to seven points in 14 minutes on the night.
Shooting the ball is Merrill’s strong suit, and he showcased it in Friday’s game. The guard provided a floor-spacing presence and a reliable threat from behind the arc to knock down shots when finally given the opportunity.
Merrill is yet to carve out a legitimate role in the rotation, but if he can keep shooting the ball at a high-level, he will be a household name in no time. Impressive shooting like he displayed Friday night is why the Bucks chose to select Merrill 60th overall in this year’s draft, and he could eventually earn consistent minutes if his shooting pedigree takes hold.