The Milwaukee Bucks season is beginning to turn around, highlighted by an important win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Not even a career-high 50 points from LaMelo Ball was enough to disrupt the Milwaukee Bucks return to form.
Milwaukee beat the Charlotte Hornets 125-119, moving to a 8-9 record and charging up to fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has stepped up as a true leader, scoring 32 points along with 11 rebounds and 6 assists in the home victory.
Milwaukee’s win left head coach Doc Rivers a lot happier than the narrow loss in Charlotte a week ago, after a controversial late call.
Giannis played 31 minutes out of a possible 45, and Rivers admitted he was hoping to give him even more rest on the second night of a back-to-back.
Milwaukee led 96-85 at the end of the third quarter – but the way Charlotte kept on pushing, ending with a 34-29 fourth quarter, meant Rivers had to put Giannis back onto the floor.
Rivers explained in his post-game press conference: “This was going to be a tough game, the last home game of a back to back, I was trying to squeeze….
“I did not want to put Giannis back into the game. But we had to with five or whatever left. But I’m just happy we won the game and we’ll fix the other stuff.”
He went onto praise the former MVP’s passing, arguing it does not get enough attention.
“Giannis’ passing does not get enough shine. It’s funny, we talk about his triple-doubles, it almost like we ignore his passing.”
Charlotte pushed Milwaukee and LaMelo Ball’s 50 points kept the team on their toes, and Rivers said they tried to combat it with offense.
“In the third quarter he was really attacking ‘Dre [Andre Jackson] and it helped us as we put our offense on the floor and made him play more defense.”
On Lamelo, Rivers added: “He made tough shots so we live with some of those.”
He was less satisfied with the way the Bucks defended Brandon Miller on his drives to the basket, conceding this was more of a problem.
Rivers said: “It was Miller I wasn’t happy with. He was a guy we focused on before the game. He’s really becoming a player.”
Miller ended the game with 32 points and 11 rebounds. The Hornets have now fallen to 6-10 for the season, ranking in 11th place.
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