Milwaukee kicks off the homestand with an impressive victory
In the first game of a four-game homestand, the Milwaukee Bucks knocked off the Sacramento Kings, 130-115. It ended Sacramento’s seven-game winning streak. Giannis Anteokounmpo led the Bucks in scoring with 33 points while DeMar DeRozan’s 28 points highlighted the Kings’ efforts. Giannis would also earn the triple-double on the night with 11 rebounds and 13 assists.
The Kings bring one of the fastest paces in the league and it was on showcase in the first quarter. It was a bit contagious as well, as the Bucks were hoisting up threes as well. A 22-6 run by Milwaukee opened things up drastically in their favor. After the opening quarter, the Bucks had buried seven threes at a 53.8% clip. Damian Lillard was the leader in that category, connecting on several threes and helping Milwaukee secure an incredibly impressive 47-26 advantage after one.
Milwaukee was able to maintain the separation throughout the second quarter, continuing to give the Kings a taste of their own medicine with some high-flying offense. Giannis Antetokounmpo would lead all scorers in the first half with 19 points, going 8-of-12 from the floor. It helped pad Milwaukee’s lead to 75-54 at intermission.
The story would remain the same throughout the third. In fact, nearly the exact same. The Bucks would close out the quarter with a 102-82 lead, nearly identical to their advantage after two quarters of play. Giannis Antetokounmpo continued to lead all scorers with 31 points. Damian Lillard, AJ Green, and Brook Lopez all registered 14 points apiece through three.
The finger biting time would roll around with just under nine minutes left. A Keegan Murray 3-pointer made it seem close for what seemed to be the first time in an eternity. However, the Bucks were able to regain their composure and reinstate their double-digit lead thanks to strong closeout play. They’d then put the final touches on a 130-115 victory.
Stat That Stood Out
The hot shooting that began in the first quarter seemed to serve as a dagger of sorts. Obviously, three quarters remained, but it was a tone setter that the Bucks would cruise on the remainder of the game. A 47-point stands out in an impressive manner, as the Bucks truly flipped the script on a Kings team known for their own potent scoring. This type of shooting performance against a Sacramento team that’s been on an intriguing run as of late following the dismissal of Mike Brown may just be what the doctor ordered for the Bucks.
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