The Milwaukee Bucks endured their third loss to the Washington Wizards this season, going down 109-99 in the nation’s capital. Hmmm. Yep. Myles Turner was the Bucks’ best with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and
six blocks. And of course, the Wizards were led by the one that got away, Kyshawn George, who dropped 23 points, five assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
Game Recap
The Bucks got off to a slow start, beginning 1/8 from the field and getting down 9-2 at the eight-minute mark. But it was Bobby Portis who brought them back into it with a pair of threes. Kyshawn George, selected one spot behind AJ Johnson, was scoring early for the Wizards. Frankly, Milwaukee was lucky only to be down six at the five-minute mark; they were giving Washington a heap of good looks from deep, and most just rimmed out. The Bucks responded, though, with an 8-0 run featuring an and-one from Myles Turner and a triple from Pete Nance. Unfortunately for the visitors, a reckless closeouts on a three-point shooter caused them to be down 25-23 after one.
The Wizards got out of the blocks early in the second with a Tre Johnson step-back two (which was also ruled a flagrant on Ryan Rollins) and another jumper from Carrington. Crucially, the foul on Rollins was his third, meaning he’d sit for the rest of the period. Before long, the Wiz were up 33-23. The Bucks then made a 4-0 run, which prompted a Brian Keefe timeout. Out of the timeout, the Wizards had their own 4-0 run (including a pick-six by Justin Champagnie), which prompted a Doc Rivers timeout! The Bucks could not find a consistent source of offence for the next few minutes, which allowed the Wizards to fly in transition and go on an 11-0 run, taking a 49-33 lead with four minutes left. The Wiz took a 57-43 edge into the locker rooms.
Rollins wasted no time troubling the scorebook early in the third, notching a quick five points after sitting much of the first half. Milwaukee got the deficit down close to single digits a few times, but the Wizards always had an answer, up 68-55 at the seven-minute mark. Once again, the Bucks got it down to 10 following a Nance hook, but threes from Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington erased all that momentum; Wiz up 76-60 with 3:36 on the clock. That said, the Bucks respond again—this time with an 8-2 run spearheaded by Kyle Kuzma finishing in transition—and they were on the single-digit precipice once more but could not get over it. Washington up 82-72 heading into the final frame.
Will Riley, another Wizards rookie, nailed an and-one three to begin the fourth (also ruled a flagrant—somehow the third of the game for the Bucks). Kuzma responded with a three-point play of his own on the next possession, followed by a whip to Turner, and the deficit was finally in single digits. At one point, the Wizards’ lead was down to six, but a tough Kyshawn George jumper and a Jamir Watkins pick-six had it back at 10 with eight minutes to play. For the next few minutes, both teams missed a bunch of shots, but a terrific hustle play by Rollins put the Bucks down six, 95-89, with just over four minutes on the clock. Then, a Rollins step-beck three and a Kuz spinning floater had it down to a single-possession game. Unfortunately, Rollins then had to leave the game with an apparent leg injury, leaving the Bucks without a true creator and losing the game. When it rains, it pours, apparently.
Stat That Stood Out
The Bucks actually shot it better than the Wizards and even took more shots, but they got beasted at the charity stripe. Washington shot 28 free throws to Milwaukee’s nine—an indication of the lack of downhill creators they had.
