Showing big fight fueled by Taurean Prince’s return and Kyle Kuzma’s 10k milestone, the Milwaukee Bucks couldn’t keep the momentum down the stretch, losing to the Orlando Magic 129-114. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Player Grades
Kyle Kuzma
38 minutes, 33 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 57% FG, 60% 3P, -16
Kuzma came to play tonight, and it’s a pity the team couldn’t rally around Big Kuz as he passed 10,000 career points. The big
man was in attack mode throughout the first three quarters, driving with purpose and draining deep triples. He was a menace defensively too. Small demerits for losing his touch in the fourth quarter and for a ghastly -16 in the plus-minus. It feels deceptive, though. His energy and marksmanship stood out, carrying the team for significant stretches and fueling big runs.
Grade: A-
Ryan Rollins
40 minutes, 14 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 turnovers, 1 steal, 50% FG, 33% 3P, -6
An up-and-down game for Ryan, with more significant downs than ups. His five turnovers led the team and contributed to a glaring discrepancy that largely decided the game. His giveaways were symptomatic of a player going too fast and losing control. His seven helpers are not to be overlooked, though, nor was his solid shooting.
Grade: C
Taurean Prince
17 minutes, 0 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, -6
Throw out the stats. In this case, they’re irrelevant. What mattered was heart, grit, and tenacity. Prince playing in a game this season was something no one expected (and no one had ever done before with the severe neck injury he suffered earlier in the season). Instead of giving up, Prince has been a vocal member of the Bucks’ bench and practices all season, while working diligently to get back on the floor. That season-long commitment was rewarded with a return to action. He’s got a ways to go in regaining rhythm and playing at game speed, but proved to everyone that his heart can never be questioned.
Grade: A
Ousmane Dieng
36 minutes, 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 63% FG, 50% 3P, –8
Dieng played a nice all-around game, finding his shooting stroke and leading the team in rebounds.
Grade: B+
Giannis Antetokounmpo
32 minutes, 22 points, 6 rebounds, 56% FG, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, –16
An uncharacteristically sluggish game for the superstar, who was swarmed by two or three Suns every time he touched the ball. Giannis looked a bit hobbled and, for him, low-energy as he returns from injury. He missed some gimmes, didn’t always close out on shooters with his usual verve, and on a few occasions took defensive possessions off. His shoulder was wrapped, hinting at another lingering sore spot.
Grade: B–
Myles Turner
32 minutes, 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 54% FG, 63% 3P, -2
Turner also came to play tonight, showing the kind of all-around impact player Bucks fans thought they were getting when he joined the team after a decade of tormenting them as a Pacer.
Grade: B+
AJ Green
15 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 50% FG (all 3P), -12
Another no-show game for Green, who in better days would have connected on some long-range missiles to stem the bleeding in the fourth quarter, when the team most needed a lift. The one play that stands out for AJ came for the wrong reason: he fouled old friend Grayson Allen on a three-pointer at the close of the first quarter. Allen drained the jumper and the freebie, padding the Suns’ lead.
Grade: D
Cam Thomas
15 minutes, 8 points, 4 assists, 3/6 FG, 0/2 3P, -9
Cam’s downturn continued, with this game being more of the same from what we’ve seen over the past few weeks. I mean, Thomas was efficient with the court time he got—particularly with the four assists—but playing just 15 minutes with KPJ out is probably a reflection of where he’s at.
Grade: C
Pete Nance
12 minutes, 0 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 0/2 FG, -5
Pete’s minutes weren’t bad, but he really did nothing of note. Two turnovers for a player like him isn’t great either.
Grade: C-
Doc Rivers
Plus side: the team didn’t fall into its familiar habit of a lackluster play to start the third quarter. They were the aggressors, running up an 11-point lead. Downside: the rest of the game, when the Bucks looked like they too often do, a team without an identity or requisite hunger to close out competitive games. How much of it falls on coaching, and how much on personnel—the team was missing Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., and Jerico Sims tonight—can be debated.
Grade: C+
Limited Minutes: Andre Jackson Jr.
DNP-CD: Gary Harris, Gary Trent Jr., Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Inactive: Bobby Portis, Jericho Sims, Alex Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Cormac Ryan
Bonus Bucks Bits
- Huge shout-out to Kyle Kuzma on passing the 10,000-point milestone. He went on one of his scoring benders that happens a few times every season, and was borderline unstoppable during stretches.
- Gary Trent Jr. has returned to the doghouse. Did not play. Was the only Buck taking extra shots after the game.
- Jalen Green clearly won the battle of the Greens, outscoring AJ 25-3. And let’s not forget that Jalen provided us with the first Fiserv wedgie in a while.
Up Next
The Bucks travel to South Beach for a Thursday night tilt against the Miami Heat. Catch the action at 6:30 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
