The Bucks took on the Pacers in Milwaukee tonight as they looked to sport a winning record for the first time this season.
The starting lineup for the Bucks was:
Matthew Dellavedova
Tony Snell
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jabari Parker
Miles Plumlee
The starting lineup for the Pacers was:
Jeff Teague
Monta Ellis
Paul George
Thaddeus Young
Myles Turner
The Pacers started the game with a Jeff Teague 3-pointer as they scored the first 5 of the game, but the Bucks responded well and the game stayed close early, with the game tied at 15 midway through the first. Of these 15, Jabari Parker scored 7 and Tony Snell scored 6 as they were nearly the entire Bucks offense early on. The game stayed close the rest of the opening quarter, but the Pacers finished it out with a very slight 30-29 edge.
Giannis started the second quarter with a great dunk (as he has started several quarters this season) to give the Bucks a lead, but the teams traded baskets for the next few minutes as neither squad could build a big lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Malcolm Brogdon and Jabari Parker finally gave the Bucks some breathing room, though, as they took a 48-42 lead midway through the second. The Pacers grabbed a one-point lead back a few minutes later, but the quarter ended with Giannis’s 4th dunk, 3-pointers by each team and a 63-57 Bucks halftime lead. Jabari and Giannis led all scorers with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Myles Turner started the second half with a layup to bring the Pacers within 4, but the Bucks responded with an 11-2 run (including 9 by Jabari Parker himself) to give the Bucks a double-digit lead midway through the quarter. From then, the game threatened to turn into a blowout as the Bucks maintained their lead and the Pacers could not seem to find a way back into the game in the third quarter. As the game went into the final quarter, the Bucks found themselves up 90-79.
Jabari Parker (who else?) kicked off the scoring for the Bucks in the final quarter with 5 straight points as the Bucks continued to deny a Pacers comeback early in the fourth quarter. Indiana got as close as 9 points, but the Bucks responded to stay up big, and they led 101-88 midway through the final quarter. The Pacers started to close the gap with a few minutes left in the game as they got within 7, but a Tony Snell killed this rally with a 3-pointer to give the Bucks some more space as they found their footing again. From there, Milwaukee cruised to a great 125-107 win against the Pacers, capped by two great 3-pointers from Thon Maker.
Three Big Things
Jabari Parker – Parker had himself a game. He seemed to score at will all night, and he finished with a season-high 27 points on 11/17 shooting along with 8 rebounds. Parker not only had a huge game, but also made it look easy as he continues to show that he’s not just Giannis Antetokounmpo’s second banana. Parker is delivering so far this season on what the Bucks hoped he would be when they drafted him with the number 2 overall pick.
Greg Monroe – Greg Monroe had another impressive performance off the bench, going for 16 points and 16 rebounds in 25 minutes of action, including some silky-smooth layups and thunderous dunks. He shot 6/10 from the field and 4/5 from the free-throw line as he made the best of every opportunity he got. Monroe also added 6 assists and looked every bit the big ticket free agent the Bucks signed last year. When Greg Monroe is on, good things usually happen for the Bucks.
Malcolm Brogdon – Brogdon had another excellent game as one of the newest Bucks is starting to put together a solid case for rookie of the year. He had an extremely-efficient 12 points on 3/5 shooting, and also added 5 assists and 3 steals. He also stopped a 3-on-1 fastbreak all by himself in the fourth quarter to deny the Pacers trying to get back in the game. The rookie is looking very, very good so far this season, and he was second on the team in plus/minus rating with a +17 in 24 minutes on the court.
Plus/Minus Hero
Giannis Antetokounmpo – There’s not much I can say about Giannis that will surprise you. He had yet another near-triple-double tonight, going for 27 points of his own on 11/18 from the field, along with 9 assists and 7 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks and 2 steals on his way to a +18 performance, easily cruising to being tonight’s plus/minus hero. Giannis is the Bucks’ best player, and it continues to look like he will be Milwaukee’s first all-star since Michael Redd. At least he should be.
This was the Bucks’ biggest win of the season so far as they beat a very good Pacers team pretty handily, and it’s looking like they’re starting to figure out who they are as a team. If they can do that this early in the season, the rest of the league should take notice. Tune in on Saturday night as the Bucks take on the Kings and try to build on tonight’s outstanding performance!
Ted Davis tonight near end of Pacers game:
After Thon Maker’s first three: “Thon Maker, Dream Maker, Shot Taker”
Ted Davis after Pacers pulled Paul George near the end of the game:
“And you know what that means, this one is in the bank and earning interest”
Dennis Krause: “I was wondering when you were going to say that.”
Ted: “I was skittish….I’m like a cat.”
Ted Davis always makes you think twice about choosing the TV broadcast over the radio broadcast cause you never know what he’s gonna say that you might miss!
Love the way Brogdon stuffs the stat sheet. He’s looking like a keeper. Though disappointed in the DNP for Henson coming off his nice play in the last game. I suppose when the Moose gets loose, you gotta ride him.
Oh yeah, Brogdon’s looking like a great draft pick already. And I know what you mean about Henson, though it’s nice to know that he can take the night off and the Bucks can still win pretty handily.