Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 125-123 loss to Brooklyn Nets
Milwaukee Bucks against Brooklyn Nets takeaway No. 1 — Durant and Harden steal the show (and the win)
In the end, the Nets’ dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and James Harden was too much to handle for the Bucks.
Both MVP winners combined to score 64 points, with Harden leading the way for Brooklyn with a season-high 34 points on 13-for-25 shooting and 12 assists. While that came with six turnovers, Harden’s ability to manipulate Milwaukee’s defense from practically the halfcourt line had an incredible effect on the Nets’ offensive potency, which stood as no surprise after his landmark arrival less than a week ago.
Durant posted lesser efficiency on the night, but only ever slightly. The veteran forward scored 30 points on 10-for-21 shooting, along with nine rebounds and six assists.
It was a world of difference to when Durant was guarded by the likes of Antetokounmpo, Holiday and Middleton as they bothered him into getting his shooting release to when the Bucks’ lesser defenders had the gargantuan task of checking the future Hall of Famer.
The fact that the Bucks’ defense was so titled to both Durant and Harden made things easier for the Nets’ supporting cast and it led to the field day they had from 3-point range as they went 15-for-31 from that range (48.4 percent) on the night.
Knowing all of this came without Kyrie Irving in the mix, the Bucks got a first-hand experience of the difficulties trying to challenge and cover the Nets will be this season and beyond. But it was certainly thrilling to watch all the same.
Next. 3 early weak points on Milwaukee’s roster. dark
The Bucks will look to get back on the winning side when they host the reigning NBA champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, on Thursday night at Fiserv Forum.