Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 129-115 loss to Utah Jazz

3 takeaways from loss to Utah Jazz — Milwaukee Bucks’ defense nonexistent in the loss

Over the previous two seasons, the Bucks earned the league’s best record consecutively because of their defensive prowess. They were a juggernaut on that end of the floor, but the script has been flipped entirely this season as they have the 12th-ranked defensive rating at this point.

This was apparent Friday night in Utah as the Jazz put up a whopping 129 points against the Bucks. Shooting a collective 43-of 82 from the floor (14-of-38 from behind the 3-point line) helped them run up the score in a game where it seemed like everyone opposite of the Bucks had the hot hand with the ball in their hands.

Sharpshooter Joe Ingles got the start in place of the injured Mike Conley Jr., and he made his mark all night long as he tied his career-high with 27 points by going 7-of-9 from distance. His fellow backcourt partner Donovan Mitchell did not score the ball particularly efficiently, but he still finished the game with 26 points and eight assists.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Clarkson proved to be a pest for the Bucks all night off the bench. Utah’s starting center Rudy Gobert also turned some heads by scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds on the night. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year is unquestionably not known for his offensive skill set, but it did not appear the way against the Bucks.

For the Bucks to give up 25 points to four different individuals is just awful. The Jazz were hitting their shots from distance, mid-range, and down low, all of which the Bucks had no answer to for 48 consecutive minutes. Milwaukee’s defense has taken a hit without Holiday, one of their best defenders, in the lineup, but their efforts in this game were far below par.

The Bucks will close out their six-game road trip Sunday night when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 7 p.m. central time tip-off.