3 takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks’ quality win over LA Clippers
By Dalton Sell
Following a win against the Portland Trail Blazers late Saturday night, the Milwaukee Bucks aimed to keep the ball rolling as they visited the LA Clippers last night.
This scrappy Clippers team has proven to be a pesky opponent for the Bucks in the past, which proved true once again in the early going of last night’s game. Despite missing their All-Stars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers were in front for nearly the first quarter and a half. However, something in that second quarter clicked for the Bucks as they responded by not only taking the lead, but outright running away with it.
The Bucks were up by as many as 26 points in this one, firing on all cylinders. Though there may have been some concern as the Clippers cut it to single digits in the fourth quarter, the Bucks held off any miracle comeback dreams for LA fans as they eventually secured the 137-113 win. With all that being said, let us take a look at three closer takeaways that helped the Bucks win this one.
Pat Connaughton provided a much-needed spark while filling in as a starter for the Milwaukee Bucks
With Grayson Allen being pulled from the lineup right before the game due to hip soreness, coach Mike Budenholzer turned to Pat Connaughton to start. Ultimately, that proved to be a stellar idea as Connaughton helped spark Milwaukee’s second-half run that saw them pull away.
After struggling early on, Connaughton caught fire in the third quarter as he hit four 3-pointers in less than a two-minute stretch. The Bucks were up by 12 prior to his first third-quarter 3-pointer, and then they were up by 23 afterward. The guard provided a significant jolt of energy in that run, which may explain why he finished with a single-game +/- of +26 in this one. Largely thanks to his mighty third-quarter onslaught, Connaughton finished last night’s game with 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting from deep while also pulling down five rebounds.
It is no secret that Connaughton has turned into a reliable role player for the champs over the past few seasons, and last night’s game was the perfect example. With the Bucks needing a fill-in for Allen last minute, Connaughton not only stepped up, but he delivered one of his best games of the season with a fantastic all-around showing.