The Milwaukee Bucks fall to the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104, unable to win consecutive games since they did so in the early season. AJ Green was probably the Bucks’ best player with a season-high-tying 20
points on 6/11 from three. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 24 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks.
Game Recap
Both teams were feeling each other out throughout most of the opening period, with neither gaining much of an advantage. AJ Green got going with two much-needed threes in the opening stanza, while Bobby Portis (9 points) and Kevin Porter Jr. (7) accounted for much of the scoring elsewhere. For the Grizzlies, Jaren Jackson Jr. put the team on his back, attacking the rack for 10 early points. It was late in the period that the Bucks made their move, going on a 13-2 run; of that late push was powered by Ryan Rollins, who ended the quarter with an acrobatic and-one finish. Bucks led 35-25 at quarter time.
After a slow first quarter, Ja Morant got going in transition to open the second with consecutive buckets. Myles Turner threw up multiple attempts to foul-bait, none of which worked, but the latest led to another Memphis transition bucket as Doc called a timeout, Bucks up 37-33. In the space of just under four minutes, the Grizz went on a 14-5 run. The Bucks would fail to score a field goal for nearly five minutes as Memphis took full advantage, expanding their lead to double digits. Things really fell apart in the second for the Bucks; they got outscored 35-15 (!) in the period, had seven turnovers, and thus were down 60-50 at half.
The third quarter started out with Memphis extending its lead to 15, a run capped off by a Christian Koloko transition lob. Luckily, the Bucks were able to keep the deficit at around 10 points for the remainder of the quarter. AJ Green and Kyle Kuzma made timely shots, as did Bobby Portis. What was letting the Bucks down was simple lapses in focus; for example, they had the lead down to nine, and then Jericho Sims fouled Santi Aldama on a three. Overall, though, it was an OK quarter for Milwaukee, down 92-83 after three.
The fourth started off well for the Bucks, with Rollins nailing a step-back two and some great defensive possessions in their zone. Unfortunately, a horrendous call on a Morant three let the air out of Milwaukee’s balloon, which was then followed by a Cedric Coward transition triple to bump the lead back up to 12. KPJ nailed a kick-out triple to have the Bucks within 10 at the 6:30 mark; unfortunately, that was followed by a Cam Spencer four-point play. From there, the Grizz just incrementally extended their lead until it was time to get the starters out and prepare for tomorrow’s back-to-back. Bucks take another L.
Stat That Stood Out
The Bucks turned the ball over a whopping 22 times; KPJ had seven of them. Just can’t win that way.
