Whenever everything seems to be going right for the Milwaukee Bucks, they tend to play things too close for comfort soon after.
That was precisely the case in last night’s matchup with the OKC Thunder, where the Bucks looked to be well on their way to a win with a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter before OKC rallied back to cut their deficit to just two points in the fourth quarter. Yet, OKC never managed to claim a lead in the contest, despite having several opportunities in that fourth quarter. Instead, the Bucks held on to secure a 96-89 victory over the Thunder in a game that was nearly a disaster. With that being said, let us take a closer look at three big takeaways from the contest.
Bobby Portis continues to thrive in his increased role with the Milwaukee Bucks
With center Brook Lopez still sidelined with his ongoing back soreness, the Bucks have relied upon Bobby Portis to step into those shoes in the starting five. The big man has done a solid job to this point, and he had another solid performance against the Thunder, although he may have had some shooting struggles.
Despite shooting a brutal 5-of-13 from the floor, Portis finished with 17 points against OKC, the second-most on the Bucks. Three of those made baskets came from behind the arc, the only spot Portis could seemingly find any success on the night offensively. Portis typically does most of his damage close to the hoop in addition to the occasional mid-range jumper, but it was good to see him have a good shooting night from 3-point range as he has previously struggled from there this season.
While the scoring totals from Portis might not jump off the page, his rebounding numbers against OKC should. The big man pulled down 13 rebounds in the contest, proving to be a major factor for the Bucks on the glass. On a night where the Bucks managed to grab just six offensive rebounds as a unit, Portis asserted his presence by hauling in four of those on his own. Given how close this game got down the stretch, those second-chance opportunities proved crucial.
With 17 points and 13 rebounds, Portis notched his third double-double of the season. Not only has the scoring from Portis provided a much-needed boost for the short-handed Bucks, but the ability to rebound the ball at a high-level, such as last night, has been as well. Opponents have dominated the Bucks in the rebounding department without Lopez this season, which has been among the biggest reasons for their struggles early. To see Portis not only score the ball at a high level but also attack the glass like this was a welcoming sign.
Although the Bucks got some positive-sounding news regarding Lopez’s return, there is still no date set in stone just yet. Until then, the team will continue to rely heavily on Portis to fill in as a starter, and he has shown that he is up to the challenge. Due to the scoring, rebounding, and the high-intensity play that he brings to the floor, this team sure is lucky to have a backup like Portis.