The Milwaukee Bucks’ seven-game win streak was put to the test last night as they welcomed the Charlotte Hornets to town.
Given the amount of star power and name recognition on both sides, this matchup was viewed as must-see television. Ultimately, the contest lived up to the hype, and those that missed the action will kick themselves for doing so. After a 48-minute roller coaster ride, the Bucks left the court as the winning team with a 127-125 victory. There are few words to describe the thrill ride that took place between the Bucks and Hornets last night, but let us put some to paper and take a look at three big takeaways from Milwaukee’s eighth consecutive win.
The Milwaukee Bucks show their resiliency as they gut out a win against the Charlotte Hornets
Although the Bucks managed to secure the victory in the end, it did not come without several challenges, especially early on. The Hornets came out firing from 3-point range while the Bucks could not buy a bucket from the outside. Due to this onslaught from the outside from Charlotte, Milwaukee trailed by 16 points after the first quarter and found themselves in trouble early. Yet, they kept their composure and battled back into it, hanging around until they finally reclaimed a lead near the end of the third quarter.
Just as it looked like the Bucks might start to build a lead in the fourth quarter, the Hornets kept themselves in the game. Neither team could seemingly keep a grip on the lead, as there were an astounding 10 lead changes in the period alone. These two teams battled it out down the stretch late, with Khris Middleton knocking down a big triple, LaMelo Ball hitting one minutes later to tie things up, and then Giannis Antetokounmpo’s eventual game-winner all standing out. There was almost another lead change as Charlotte’s Miles Bridges heaved a prayer at the buzzer that would have won them the game, but it thankfully rattled out.
It was far from pretty, but a win is a win. Things did not look good after the Bucks trailed by 16 at the end of the first, but this team does not fear adversity. With their win streak in jeopardy, it was a team effort for the Bucks to rally together and snatch their eighth straight win. Although it may have caused some gray hairs along the way, seeing the Bucks emerge victorious in a back and forth clutch battle is always worth it.
DeMarcus Cousins makes a strong first impression in his Milwaukee Bucks debut
All eyes were on DeMarcus Cousins last night as he officially made his Bucks debut after signing with the team recently. Given that he just came aboard and has not played in an NBA game in months, many questioned just how much playing time he would get for the champs. In the end, Cousins played a decently prominent role for the Bucks, and he made a strong first impression in the process.
In just over 14-and-a-half minutes played, Cousins tallied seven points on 3-of-5 shooting, which included one 3-pointer, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. He also finished with a single-game +/- of +9, tied for the highest on the team in the game alongside George Hill. While he did not fill the stat sheet, Cousins was overall solid for the Bucks. Despite the extended time off, the big man looked to be in great shape and provided some much-needed energy off the bench. Although he has had hardly any practice time with his new teammates either, Cousins looked like a natural out on the floor with the Bucks.
Although it is just one game, this already looks like it is a great move for the champs as they continue to play without starting center Brook Lopez. Cousins showed that he can check into the game and be a 15-minute rotational player, which will be pivotal as the Bucks wait for news on a potential return for Lopez. If Cousins can consistently come off the bench and provide rebounding, passing, an occasional 3-pointer, and some toughness, he will be perfect for this team. He checked all of those boxes in his debut last night, and hopefully he can continue to do so moving forward.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s latest masterclass for the Milwaukee Bucks helps them outlast the surging Charlotte Hornets
The NBA world is running out of words to describe Antetokounmpo and what he continues to do on a nightly basis this season. The Greek Freak was sensational against the Hornets as he put up yet another monster performance, which certainly helped catapult his MVP stock early this year as he and the Bucks are rolling right now.
Antetokounmpo displayed his dominance offensively by scoring 40 points while shooting a highly efficient 15-of-24 (62.5 percent) from the field – three of those misses came from deep. The most significant bucket of the night for Antetokounmpo came in the closing seconds as he drove in and scored the layup over a solid defender in Bridges to give the Bucks a two-point lead with just two seconds left. That proved to be the winning basket after Bridges’ shot rimmed out, and it was the perfect way to end Antetokounmpo’s electrifying night.
While his scoring will dominate the headlines, the two-time MVP nearly had a triple-double as he finished with 12 rebounds and nine assists. Antetokounmpo’s facilitating was fantastic all night as he got his teammates involved, but the one pass that stood out among the bunch was a late pass to Middleton out on the perimeter, who buried a shot to give them a lead. Just phenomenal work from the Greek Freak from start to finish, and that game-winner will rightfully dominate highlight reels on social media.
There will not be too much focus on that game as the Bucks are set to hit the floor again tonight as they will square off against the Toronto Raptors.
Be sure to catch the action at 6:30 p.m. CST on Bally Sports Wisconsin.