The Milwaukee Bucks rested their big three Saturday evening in Charlotte on the second night of a back to back and traveling from Milwaukee to the East Coast. The Bucks reserves played a great game and got a nice bounce back win for the Bucks who are now an NBA best 70-28 following a loss since the 2018-19 season, Mike Budenholzer’s first year with the team.
The Milwaukee Bucks used a starting lineup of Jevon Carter, Grayson Allen, Jordan Nwora, Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez. Of those five, Grayson Allen was the only one not to score in double figures. The starters shot 8-of-21 on 3-point attempts, a tick over 38 percent. Certainly a welcome sight when considering that those players weren’t having open looks created by the big three but creating their own looks.
Takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks reserves win over Charlotte Hornets: Brook Lopez setting the tone
As mentioned, the Bucks starters made eight 3-point shots, led by Brook Lopez who made three of his five attempts, including a super deep shot at the end of the first quarter that put the Bucks up by six, the Milwaukee Bucks led the entire rest of the game. Brook Lopez is currently shooting a career high 41.7 percent from behind the 3-point line at 34 years old! Brook is currently second in the NBA in made 3-pointers at the center position.
Brook Lopez also set the tone defensively, continuing his insane stretch of dominant rim protection. Lopez blocked six shots Saturday night, over his last five games Brook has totaled 21 blocks, 4.2 per game, an insane average.
Lopez is leading the league in blocks by a sizeable margin. Brook Lopez is the NBA’s leader in blocks with 66, Nic Claxton who is in second with 52 has played two more games than Lopez.
Brook Lopez is truly epitomizing the term “3 & D” player, not something you usually expect from the center position and we’re here for it.