The Milwaukee Bucks fell in a high scoring battle with the Los Angeles Lakers Friday night in Milwaukee 133-129. The 129 points the Bucks scored in this game was their second highest point total of the season, second only to the 136 scored in a double overtime tilt with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 133 points allowed is the highest total the Milwaukee Bucks have allowed this season.
The Bucks got solid production from all of their big three and overall the team scored the ball very well, just couldn’t get a last minute 3-point basket to fall to tie the game.
However, despite the end result not being ideal, there are still at least two positive takeaways from this game. Let’s look at the two positives and then the one area the Bucks can come away knowing they need to improve.
Takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks loss to Los Angeles Lakers: Khris Middleton is back
Definitely the happiest takeaway from this game, regardless of the outcome, was seeing Khris Middleton back in a Bucks uniform. His season debut went pretty well, 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting including 3-of-4 behind the 3-point line, Middleton also added two rebounds and seven assists without committing a single turnover. All in 26 minutes of play, a very, very solid season debut for Khris coming off wrist surgery.
I was watching for three things from Khris Middleton in his return, his minutes, whether he would start or not and his defense, he played 26 minutes, admittedly about six more than I would have guessed he’d play. Khris Middleton did slot into the starting rotation, moving Jevon Carter to the bench, Carter still played 20 minutes, resulting in just eight minutes for George Hill. Finally, Middleton guarded a slew of different Lakers and did okay in his first game back, in a game as high scoring as this there weren’t a lot of standouts in +/- but Khris did finish positive, a team high +3, thanks likely to his seven assists and no turnovers.
Aside from his solid performance, we are just happy to see Khris Middleton’s jumper, running the pick and roll and throwing alley-oop lobs to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is our next takeaway.