Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from thrilling 127-104 win vs Brooklyn Nets

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton pick up right where they left off for the Milwaukee Bucks

Due to the sheer amount of talent that these two teams boast, there is never any shortage of star power at work when the Bucks and Nets go head-to-head. While the Nets are without Kyrie Irving and the Bucks lost Holiday midway through the contest, the players that remained made sure to put on a show.

For Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton both came to play. Antetokounmpo, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, was as dominant as ever by putting up 32 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists. Offensively, most of Antetokounmpo’s damage was done closer to the basket, but he did show glimpses of that improved jumper from various spots on the floor. That included the free throw line, where he shot 7-of-9, now using a single-dribble to speed up the routine. Whether it was his scoring, passing, defense, or practically everything else, Antetokounmpo looked great to begin the new season. The best part? He did all of this in just a tick under 31 minutes.

Antetokounmpo’s excellent performance somewhat overshadowed Middleton’s contributions, but he was also great with 20 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. With Holiday leaving, he had to take on more responsibility to keep Milwaukee in the driver’s seat, which is precisely what he did. Everyone knows Middleton is a lethal scorer, and he showed it in the second half with an array of tough baskets. Holiday also looked good in his 18 minutes by tallying 12 points, one assist, and one rebound, and it appears he will be alright as Budenholzer told reporters that the MRI came back clean. Time will tell how much time he may miss.

Be sure to catch the Bucks in action again this Thursday as they take on another familiar face in the Miami Heat. That will be available to watch at 7:00 p.m. CST on Bally Sports WI.