The visiting Milwaukee Bucks swept the season series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday with a dominant 130-105 win.
They did it without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the mix, who missed his sixth consecutive game as he continues battling through knee soreness. Minnesota was also without their top man, as Karl Anthony-Towns missed his second consecutive game due to personal reasons involving the one-year anniversary of the death of his mother.
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The Bucks have been justifiably inconsistent without the two-time MVP in the fold throughout this recent stretch, and they would need several players to step up in his absence.
They were granted some reinforcements as defensive ace P.J. Tucker made his return to the lineup after missing 10 games due to a calf strain. The veteran finished scoreless in just under 10 minutes of action, but it was a welcoming sign to see him get back out there with the team.
Although Tucker understandably showed off some rust, a handful of other players stepped up significantly to help propel this win. With that being said, here are three takeaways from Milwaukee’s big win over Minnesota.
Milwaukee Bucks get a shooting lift from the bench in win over Timberwolves
Leading second unit scorer Bobby Portis got his sixth start of the season with Antetokounmpo sidelined, leaving big shoes to fill on the bench to replicate his scoring production.
Understanding the situation, Pat Connaughton stepped up by scoring 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-8 from behind the arc. Also notching four rebounds in his 21 minutes of action, the guard logged another impactful performance off the bench.
After shooting 1-for-17 from 3-point range throughout Milwaukee’s first five games in April, Connaughton has found himself in a nice rhythm. Including Sunday’s 124-87 win over the Orlando Magic, the veteran is now shooting 7-for-11 from deep in his last two appearances. Hopefully, this recent uptick in shooting is sustainable for Connaughton as he continues seeing extended minutes.
Speaking of red-hot shooting, another reserve that provided a boost in Wednesday’s win was Bryn Forbes. in 17 minutes, the sharpshooter finished with 14 points on a solid 4-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-5 from downtown. The 27-year-old is having a career year shooting the ball, and the Bucks are certainly glad to have that firepower coming off their bench, as evidenced by his latest performance.
Led by a strong combined effort from these two, Milwaukee’s bench knocked down 11 triples in the contest, which provided a big boost offensively.