The Milwaukee Bucks' bench poured in 69 points against the Pelicans on Friday, contributing to the offense's highest output in a regulation game this season in the 139-118 victory. It was more than half of Milwaukee's total points. It was also a statement about the potential this new bench group brings.
After the roster's supposed preseason depth quickly dissolved, a reinvigorated second unit led by Cam Thomas, Bobby Portis, and at least one of Ousmane Dieng and Pete Nance is liable to erupt on a nightly basis. That's an exciting, if somewhat unfamiliar thought.
Bucks' bench has gone from afterthought to a force
Against the Pelicans, Thomas led the team with 27 points in 21 minutes, matching Ryan Rollins' contributions in the starting five. Portis added 17 of his own, plus 11 rebounds on 8-for-12 shooting. Dieng and Nance supplied 10 points each and combined to go 3-for-5 beyond the arc.
The Bucks' potential dynamic duo of the future frontcourt also totaled seven boards, three assists, and two blocks. Dieng topped the reserves with a plus-8 box-score differential, followed by a plus-five from Nance.
It was an all-around inspiring performance. And from Bucks backups, it was one that fans haven't been treated to often. Many nights earlier this season, Portis was the only producer they could count on. Cole Anthony went AWOL. Gary Trent Jr. never found his footing. Taurean Prince had season-ending surgery. Who else could the team turn to?
Now, Thomas and others are lending a hand. He has dropped 73 points by himself in the last three games. Since he joined the Bucks, the bench overall is averaging 47.5 points per game versus 36.2 before his arrival.
While Thomas and Portis are locked in as co-sixth men, whether Dieng continues to come off the bench remains to be seen. Head coach Doc Rivers went with a starting frontcourt of Kyle Kuzma and Jericho Sims in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner.
AJ Green started at the three. There is a world where the Bucks plug Dieng in as the starting small forward, like Darvin Ham did filling in for Rivers against the Thunder. The difference there, aside from the acting head coach, was that Rollins missed the game as well, creating another opening in the starting five.
Or, Rivers might just keep Dieng in the second unit. Regardless, with Giannis and Turner healthy, it will be difficult to generate enough reps for both him and Nance, who both saw 22 minutes in New Orleans. Still, just featuring one in a significant role in the rotation gives the Bucks another source of life. That doesn't even include Kuzma, if he returns to a reserve capacity once the team reaches full strength.
Of course, the bench won't go crazy every night. That's okay. With multiple options, the Bucks don't need everyone to catch fire to get production off the bench. No one's preseason bingo card featured Thomas, Dieng, or Nance as cogs of the reserve corps, but now that they're here, it's a refreshing feeling.