The Milwaukee Bucks’ crunch-time play is improving over their win streak.
Given how the last two seasons transpired for the Bucks, they were having a hard time dismissing their frontrunner status as this season has gone along. Going 0-11 in games where they were tied or trailed at the start of the fourth quarter entering last Thursday’s game was not something to write home about.
Thankfully, the Bucks broke that slump in their 129-125 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans last Thursday and since added another win in that department versus the Clippers. With those pair of clutch-time victories, the Bucks are now 4-8 in such games this season, per NBA.com/stats.
Milwaukee’s late-game execution has certainly improved on both ends of the floor as they’ve increasingly encountered more high-leverage situations as the year has gone along.
And while it hasn’t always been perfect as that final minute against the Pelicans showed, they’re coming up with timely stops to hold on to games in such situations. Milwaukee’s 95.7 defensive rating in such situations is the sixth-best mark in the league so far this year.
The Bucks have embraced any and all tests that, in theory, would lead to being more experienced and battle tested ahead of their playoff run this season. And judging by the thunderous hammer dunk that Antetokounmpo threw down to seal the victory against the Clippers, they’re enjoying seizing such opportunities as they continue to face them.