Hard leg in 2023 and loss to the Wizards for the Bucks that Antetokounmpo, Holiday, Middleton didn’t have

The first game of 2023 was a nightmare for the Bucks. Jrue Holiday (ill), Khris Middleton (right knee), Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee) were ruled out and the Milwaukee team suffered a heavy home loss (95-118) to the Washington Wizards, who went to the Fiserv Forum without their top player . Bradley Beal.

The Deers fell to 23-13 (15-4 home and 8-9 away) who will try to forget tonight. As we near halfway through the season and yet to see Milwaukee in full swing, it’s not easy to understand their dynamics and objectively assess the roster heading into the February 9th trade close. Bobby Portis and Grayson Allen were the two who fought the hardest, while Joe Ingles had good moments in the creation part and disappointing moments in the execution part. Although there the bucks were heartbreaking again overall.

The Wizards rose to 17-21 (10-7 home and 7-14 a) with Kristaps Porzingis-Daniel Gafford laying the groundwork from the first third and point guard Rui Hachimura breaking through in the third third for the fifth Washington team in a row win . With a rotation of just eight players, Wes Anseld, who saw his team playing more rational basketball, saw the opportunity they had in front of them with the home side missing the Big 3 and walked away to a comfortable win.

26-72 (!) points on the racquet, 8-20 points on surprise, 31-50 points on substitutes, 18-17 points on opponent’s mistakes, 20-17 points on second chances (offensive rebounds), only ten fouls were committed by the Wizards, who shot 67 two-pointers for 27 three-pointers, while the Bucks had 47 two-pointers for 49 three-pointers.

The two teams will play again on Wednesday morning at 03:00 in the Fiserv Forum. It will be the second game between them in three nights.

The race

With Carter, Allen, Connaughton, Portis, Lopez opening the game, the Bucks had a big problem tagging the “dynamite” Gafford and saw Lopez commit two quick fouls. 10-15 in the fifth and 14-24 in the ninth showed a tough night had gotten even tougher as shots (2/9 threes) failed to come in.

At the end of the third (17-34) Porzingis – Gafford had 24 points and towards the middle of the second the difference was over 20. Whoever was on the ground did what he wanted, the shots were made in poor conditions, in the 20′ had the Home team 6/24 3 points and at halftime (50-68) Mike Budenholzer and game viewers were at least embarrassed by the image of the Milwaukee team, which was really, really bad.

As much as the Bucks were looking for a good stretch on both ends of the floor, something was missing. The lead stayed at around 20 points for most of the third period, Hachimura doing what he wanted on offense and by the end of the 12-minute half -18 it was still -18. With the hosts at 15/36 two-pointers and 10/41 three-pointers. The fourth period was clearly procedural as the Wizards showed high focus and determination to win the match. Giving no rights, they achieved the result with characteristic comfort.

THE DODECALPTA: 17-34, 50-68, 70-88, 95-118

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (Mike Budenholzer): Connaughton 10 (2/6 3-pointers, 3 rebounds), Portis 19 (5/14 2-pointers, 1/2 3-pointers, 6/6 shots, 10 rebounds, 2 assists), Lopez 8 (1 treble, 10 rebounds), Allen 13 (3/9 trebles, 5 rebounds, 8 assists), Carter 14 (2/6 trebles, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Ibaka 4 (2/7 shots), Beauchamp 11 ( 2/9 trebles, 4 rebounds), Ingles (0/4 trebles, 6 assists), Mamukelasvili 2, Green 10 (2), Noora 4, Thanasis Antetokounmpo

WASHINGTON WIZARD (Wes Anseld): Kuzma 10 (5/16 shooting, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, 5 turnovers), Porzingis 22 (9/11 2-pointers, 0/5 3-pointers, 4/4 shots, 5 rebounds), Gafford 17 (8/11 2-pointers, 4 rebounds, 4 assists), Kispert 12 (2/2 3-pointers, 4/4 shots, 6 rebounds), Morris 7 (1 3-pointer, 3 rebounds, 4 assists), Hachimura 26 (8/13 2 points, 3/5 3 points, 1/3 shoots, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), Abdiya 11 (5/12 shoots, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), Wright 7 ( 1), Burton, Goodwin 2, Curry 2, Gil 2

Milwaukee Bucks team stats: 21/47 2-pointers, 13/49 3-pointers, 14/15 shots, 49 rebounds, 22 assists, 11 steals, 3 blocks, 16 turnovers, 15 fouls

Washington Wizards team stats: 43/67 2-pointers, 7/27 3-pointers, 11/16 shots, 63 rebounds, 30 assists, 9 steals, 6 blocks, 17 turnovers, 10 fouls