3 takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks’ solid win against Sacramento Kings
By Dalton Sell
A pair of once-struggling guards flipped the switch for the Milwaukee Bucks in win over the Sacramento Kings
It is no secret that both Donte DiVincenzo and George Hill have not played particularly well for the Bucks this season. However, on a night where Milwaukee desperately needed a boost with several critical pieces sidelined, these two not only stepped up but they outright excelled.
DiVincenzo looked fantastic as he scored a season-high 20 points, shooting, slashing, and staying aggressive all game. Shooting 6-of-10 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from deep, the two-guard clocked in an insanely efficient outing, a feat that has been rare for him this season. In addition to his prolific scoring, DiVincenzo stuffed the stat sheet with three boards, two assists, and a steal in his 24-and-a-half minutes played.
This is exactly the type of performance that DiVincenzo needed to have. Amidst a season where he has struggled coming back from a season-ending injury and the health and safety protocols, a game like this could work wonders for his confidence. Once DiVincenzo knocked down a few shots in this one, the confidence was on full display, something that had been noticeably absent lately as he often looked timid offensively. Hopefully this performance is just the beginning for DiVincenzo.
Hill also deserves some applause for his efforts. Notching yet another start, the veteran guard also tallied a season-high in points as he scored 17. Like DiVincenzo, it was an efficient shooting night for Hill as he went 4-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-6 from behind the arc. A good chunk of his damage came at the free throw line, where he shot a perfect 6-for-6. Surprisingly, Hill also made a big impact on the glass, in addition to his offense. He pulled down four rebounds on the night, but three of them came on the offensive end, showing the 6-foot-4 guard’s hustle.
The guard has been subject to plenty of criticism throughout his second stint in Milwaukee to this point, as he has struggled mightily in all aspects of the game. Yet, he looked rejuvenated in this one with his scoring, rebounding, defense, and hustle. Perhaps this could serve as a turning point as he aims to be a key piece for the Bucks moving forward.
Hats off to both DiVincenzo and Hill.