Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 98-85 win against OKC Thunder

Third takeaway from win over OKC Thunder — D.J. Augustin finds his rhythm in the starting lineup

D.J. Augustin has received a hefty handful of criticism this season for his poor efforts off Milwaukee’s bench, and Friday night’s game offered him a new opportunity.

With Jrue Holiday missing his seventh consecutive game due to the league’s health and safety protocols, the Bucks had previously relied on Bryn Forbes as his replacement in the starting lineup. However, that left the team without a true floor general in the backcourt.

With the team losing five of their six games without Holiday in the lineup, head coach Mike Budenholzer wanted to mix things up before tip.

This meant sliding Augustin into the starting lineup in place of Forbes to give the Bucks a more natural fit at point guard, and it worked well. Augustin logged 11 points in the game and shot an efficient 4-of-8 from the floor, including 3-of-7 from long distance. The veteran floor general also stepped up as a playmaker, dishing out five assists in his 32-and-a-half minutes of burn.

For a player that has struggled mightily to find a groove with his new team this season, seeing him step up into the starting lineup and help the Bucks get this win was beyond relieving. He looked comfortable, and this performance should undoubtedly help boost his confidence as he continues trying to find his niche with the Bucks.

It seems safe to say that Augustin will handle the starting point guard duties until Jrue Holiday makes his inevitable return. Hopefully, he can use the opportunity to string together however many more promising performances.

The Milwaukee Bucks have finally gotten back on track with a win, and they will look to make it two in a row as they host the Sacramento Kings this Sunday. You can catch the action at 8:00 p.m. CST on Fox Sports Wisconsin for those viewing locally.