3 takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks’ tough loss to Golden State Warriors
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks received solid contributions from a pair of second unit contributors, which proved to be among the few bright spots
While it is hard to list the positive takeaways from this grueling loss by the Bucks, one exception was the strong play from Serge Ibaka and Jevon Carter. Both coming off the bench, the pair were once again clicking, giving Milwaukee some quality minutes when the starters were off the court.
In what has become a trend recently, Ibaka looked comfortable for the Bucks, this time by scoring 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-3 from deep while grabbing six rebounds. Ibaka was on the floor for just over 17 minutes for Milwaukee as he was forced to leave the contest after he suffered a laceration around his eye. Having to get stitches, the big man showed off his toughness by eventually returning to the game and playing through it. Ibaka continues to look more and more in-tune with each passing game, and this was another positive sign.
The same goes for Carter, who scored nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from 3-point territory while hauling in three rebounds and an assist in 25-and-a-half minutes. Carter’s shooting garnered the most attention in this performance, as it has in many games this season, given how well the guard has shot the basketball in a Buck uniform. He was on target once again last night with three triples for the game. In addition to his shooting, Carter was one of the few Bucks that appeared dialed in on the defensive end, playing his typical brand of pestering defense against the Warriors’ guards. Throughout his first eight games with the team, Carter has proven to be a pleasant surprise for Milwaukee, and last night was yet another strong performance.
Given how shorthanded Milwaukee’s bench is currently with Pat Connaughton and George Hill sidelined, the recent contributions from Ibaka and Carter have not gone unnoticed. This pair of second unit veterans have played their roles perfectly following the All-Star break and have the potential to be incredibly important pieces moving forward.
Next. 5 noteworthy X-Factors for the Milwaukee Bucks down the stretch. dark
The Bucks will have to put this tough loss behind them as their tough West Coast road trip will continue Monday night against the Utah Jazz. That will be another anticipated matchup, and be sure to catch the action at 9:00 p.m. CST on Bally Sports Wisconsin.