On the final day of the NBA’s 2021-22 regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks took the court in the Rocket Mortgage Field House to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers more understaffed than usual.
The defending champions were without virtually every regular rotation player for this one as they had their sights set on the postseason. The lone starter that suited up was Jrue Holiday, but it did not last long as the guard played a grand total of eight seconds so he could get a solid bonus that involved playing at least 67 games this season. Following Holiday’s eight seconds of game action, the Bucks used this opportunity to take a look at some players that might not typically see much playing time on a regular basis, and there were some intriguing performances from the bunch.
While the Bucks rolled out a short-handed lineup, the Cavaliers were all systems go as this game could have helped them move up in the current play-in picture. Knowing that a win could possibly help their positioning, the Cavaliers took advantage of the undermanned Bucks and manhandled them, building up a victory as large as 40 points in the third quarter. Though Milwaukee valiantly made a late comeback attempt that cut it to a 12-point deficit, Cleveland ultimately held them off and secured the 133-115 victory over their Central Division rival.
With that said, let us take a closer look at three takeaways from Milwaukee’s ugly loss.
Newcomer Rayjon Tucker impressed as he played a prominent role for the Milwaukee Bucks in their loss to Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks recently filled their last roster spot by signing Rayjon Tucker, a long-time player for the Wisconsin Herd, their G-League affiliate. After playing just two minutes in Milwaukee’s recent win over the Detroit Pistons, Tucker saw a far more significant role against Cleveland, and he certainly took advantage of the opportunity.
Tucker’s most notable contribution was his scoring effort, as he chipped in 15 points off the bench. Having shot 5-of-7 overall, including 3-of-3 from behind the arc, Tucker looked comfortable in just his second game with the Bucks as he consistently attacked offensively. Yet, he did more than just score as Tucker also handed out four assists while tallying one turnover in the contest. Elsewhere, Tucker added four rebounds, four assists, and two steals to his total in 39 minutes of game action.
Given that this was just his second game with the Bucks and his first with a genuine opportunity, this effort from Tucker was incredibly impressive. He was fearless on the offensive end while also bringing some intensity on defense, which gave the Bucks a sizeable spark off the bench over the course of this game. Though it is just one game, Tucker has potential written all over him, and if he can build off this performance, the Milwaukee Bucks may have found a hidden gem.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo turned heads as he clocked in the best game of his NBA career in Milwaukee Bucks’ loss to Cleveland Cavaliers
Thanasis Antetokounmpo has not made too many regular appearances for the Milwaukee Bucks this season, but he was given the starting nod in this one. Like Rayjon Tucker, he unquestionably took advantage as he played some fantastic basketball from start to finish against the Cavaliers.
Offensively, Thanasis has never been known as much of a scorer, but he quieted that notion as he notched 27 points against Cleveland, the second most on Milwaukee’s roster. Shooting 9-of-14 on his field-goal attempts, Antetokounmpo did most of his damage by attacking the hoop with a few tough layups or dazzling dunks, but he also showed off his jumper on several occasions, one that included a rare 3-point make. Thanasis has also had his share of struggles at the free throw line in the past, but he looked solid as he shot 8-of-10 from the stripe to help propel his career game.
In addition to his scoring contributions, Antetokounmpo was active elsewhere as he finished with five rebounds, two assists, and a blocked shot in 40-and-a-half minutes. That goes without even mentioning the ever-persistent hustle that Thanasis puts on display each and every night, as the forward undoubtedly displayed plenty of that in this one. While he did tally five grueling turnovers and three personal fouls, it was still an otherwise impressive showing for him as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks’ starting five.
Many view Thanasis Antetokounmpo as simply a hustle guy or Milwaukee’s around the clock hype man, but he proved yesterday that he is more than that. Though he will not see significant time as a member of the rotation in all likelihood, it was welcoming to see Thanasis show what he can bring to the table.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ two-ways showed promise as Sandro Mamukelashvili and Lindell Wigginton played great in loss to Cleveland Cavaliers
Given that they are both signed on two-way deals, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Lindell Wigginton have not seen much time with the Milwaukee Bucks this season. The pair have mainly played with the Herd this year, but they played a prominent role against the Cavaliers, having shown off some possible untapped potential.
Mamukelashvili was particularly impressive for the game as he scored a team-high 28 points on a solid 10-of-18 from the floor. A significant portion of his scoring was done down low as the rookie finished with 14 points in the paint, tied for the team lead with Thanasis, per NBA.com. However, the 6-foot-11 center was also not shy about letting it fly from behind the arc as he buried two of his five triples. Along with his scoring, Mamukelashvili led the team in rebounds with 13 and also tallied four assists and a steal in his 42-and-a-half minutes played.
The 22-year-old has shown signs of potential in the G-League all throughout the season, and he showed that he could also do it at the next level as well yesterday afternoon. Mamukelashvili is an incredibly interesting player that could develop into something special down the line, and the Bucks should keep him close.
Wigginton gave the Bucks a massive boost off the bench as he scored 18 points and dished out a team-high eight assists in the loss. With 10 of his 18 points coming in the paint, the rookie drove to the hoop again and again with confidence, and the results speak for themselves. His facilitating was also a bright spot as the backup floor general made sure to get his teammates involved when he could. Though he shot just 2-of-6 from deep and 2-of-6 from the stripe, it was still Wigginton’s best outing of the year for the Bucks as he stuffed the stat sheet. Like Mamukelashvili, he is also a fascinating young piece for the team to keep a close eye on moving forward.
The Bucks will now face the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs, so stay tuned for schedule updates on that front in the coming days.