Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Lopez and Lillard discuss the Bucks’ 119-116 loss to the Celtics.
Brook Lopez and Damian Lillard discuss the Bucks’ 119-116 loss to the Celtics on November 22nd.
The Milwaukee Bucks have a chance to improve to 3-0 in group play for the in-season tournament Friday night at Fiserv Forum when they face the Washington Wizards in an East Group B match. The Wizards (2-12) are already eliminated from the quarterfinals, but the Bucks (10-5) need to keep winning to have a chance of advancing.
Thanks to a strong performance from Brook Lopez, who scored 10 points in the frame, the Bucks took a 92-89 lead after three quarters. With Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo (22 points), the Bucks have 50 points over three quarters.
Washington led 61-60 at halftime thanks to a 15-point effort from Corey Kispert, who scored all three points. Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones each had 10. Antetokounmpo scored 15 points to lead Milwaukee. Lopez had 12 points and 3 blocks for the Bucks in the first half.
Thanks to a 5:10 performance from behind the three-point line, the Wizards took a 35-34 lead after one quarter. Washington also shot 50% from the floor overall. Damian Lillard had 10 points for the Bucks.
The Miami Heat are also 2-0 and will also play against the New York Knicks (1-1) tonight. There is no decisive scenario for either the Bucks or the Heat tonight.
“I think it’s similar to the idea of winning a championship — you need buy-in,” Bucks guard Pat Connaughton said. “I think the NBA has done a great job of making sure that awareness is high, that there is some rhythm and some consistency. It’s Tuesdays and Fridays, it’s the time when the Wild Courts happen, it’s the time when every team plays, it’s groupings and so on. “I think that’s just something the league is making a statement about wanted to put. The fact that everyone bought into it made it a success and created a bit of hype.”
The Bucks currently hold the tiebreaker over the Heat with a lead of plus-36 points in their two group wins. The Heat are plus-13 and the Knicks are plus-16. Thanks to their win on November 3rd, the Bucks are already in the direct tiebreaker against New York.
“At a point where there are only two of these tournament games left, I think fans and players are starting to realize where things are going and how a points differential may come into play,” Connaughton said. “I personally think it will be even better if people see it for a year. Right now it’s still difficult for some fans or the non-everyday fan to imagine and truly understand what’s happening or why it’s more important. I think, “If you get to the final pool game or get to the quarterfinals and semifinals and everyone’s in Vegas for the finals, then I think we’ll see success.”
Milwaukee and Washington played a competitive game for a while on Monday before the Bucks eventually pulled away, 142-129.
Khris Middleton leaves game with Achilles tendon problem
With just under two minutes left in the third quarter, the Bucks suddenly had to sub Andre Jackson Jr. for Khris Middleton, which led to a delay of the game. Middleton, 32, suffered a strain in his left Achilles tendon and was immediately ruled out for the game.
After undergoing offseason surgery on his right knee, he had seen a gradual increase in his minutes over the past three games. Before a tough night in Boston on Wednesday (4 of 14), he had averaged 13.8 points and 4.1 assists in just 20.8 minutes per game over eight games from Nov. 3-20.
Middleton, who re-signed with the Bucks as a free agent this offseason, has struggled with left wrist surgery and injuries to both knees over the past two seasons.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes. The MVP began the day on Friday with the likelihood of playing with a non-COVID illness, but after the team balled around in the morning, he was downgraded to questionable. He said after the Bucks’ loss in Boston that he was battling a cold.
“He’s available,” Adrian Griffin said. “I think he was a little under the weather, not COVID. But he’s doing much better. He’ll be ready tonight.”
Bucks injury report
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, available (no COVID illness)
- Jae Crowder is out (left adductor surgery)
What are the eligibility requirements for NBA players?
The league implemented a new policy to encourage more of its star players to participate in nationally televised games – and the in-season tournament. While some absences from in-season tournament games require prior approval from the league, the fact that Antetokounmpo is not “resting” and the Bucks have two “star players” available in Khris Middleton and Lillard helps mitigate any issues, in case Antetokounmpo is not fit enough to play.
Bucks starting lineup
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley
- Forward: Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Center: Brook Lopez
What is the In-Season Tournament?
Modeled after various European soccer “cups,” the NBA is introducing round-robin group play with all 30 teams to make regular-season games more meaningful to players and fans. The Bucks are in East Group B and play against New York, Miami, Washington and Charlotte.
The teams that win their groups qualify for single-elimination games for the final eight teams, namely the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. The semifinals and finals will take place in Las Vegas.
The group play portion of the tournament runs from November 3rd to December 3rd. 9. Group games, referred to as “Tournament Nights,” will be played every Tuesday and Friday from November 3rd to November 28th.
What does the Bucks’ regular-season tournament schedule look like?
- Friday, November 24th: Bucks vs. Wizards, 6 p.m
- Tuesday, November 28th: Bucks at Heat, 6:30 p.m. (TNT)