Washington Wizards: With half a squad the Wizards fall to the Bucks
On Martin Luther King Day, the Washington Wizards hosted the Milwaukee Bucks. It was a redemption game after the Wizards lost to the Bucks earlier this month. But the Wizards would have to seek redemption elsewhere as they lost to Milwaukee, 104-95.
On Monday, the Washington Wizards hosted the Milwaukee Bucks. It was their second meeting this month, after the Wizards fell to the Bucks in a close game on Jan. 6. Washington was coming off two straight wins, while Milwaukee had two straight losses.
This was the tail end of a back-to-back for the Bucks, who lost to the Heat on Sunday. However, the Bucks would bounce back beating the Wizards, 104-95.
There was no answer for Giannis Antetokoumpo who finished the game with 27 points and 20 rebounds. The Wizards didn’t have to stop Giannis, they had to stop turning over the ball.
It sounds cliché, but the Bucks didn’t beat the Wizards, the Wizards beat the Wizards.
Wizards gave away baskets
To end the first half, the Bucks were up 53-51. It wasn’t that the Bucks were shooting better than the Wizards. In fact, Milwaukee only shot 44 percent from the field to the Wizards 53 percent. But, rather the Wizards made it easier for the Bucks, giving them baskets through turnovers.
Washington had 17 turnovers going into halftime, and the Bucks converted those into 16 points. While Milwaukee only turned over the ball 8 times, and the Wizards converted 7 points.
Otto Porter, Jr. was the only Wizards’ player in the first half not to commit a turnover.
The Wizards ability to protect the ball during the second half would determine the outcome of the game.
Unfortunately, the dinner party continued with the Wizards finishing the game, eclipsing their season-high, with 24 turnovers. The Bucks converted those mistakes into 25 points.
Wizards starters didn’t show up
John Wall would open up the game knocking down a three. It was off to the races from there, with the Bucks going on a 10-0 run.
But Washington would regroup with Bradley Beal knocking down a three of his own. The Wizards would then start attacking the paint. While Wall would have a steal, and go coast-to-coast.
Both teams would come out with strong energy, but the Wizards would end the first quarter with a narrow lead, 30-28. Wall would finish that stanza with 16 points and 3 assists.
The All-Star point guard would end the first half with an incredible 22 points, and the game with 27 points and 9 assists.
Unfortunately, Bradley Beal was the only other Wizards starter in double digits with 19 points.
This was another game where Washington was playing with half a team. Otto Porter (8 points), Markieff Morris (6 points, 6 rebounds), and Marcin Gortat (4 points, 7 rebounds).
Porter only attempted 8 shots and was 3-for-8 from the field. Wall attempted 22 shots, while Beal attempted 17.
There’s no way the Wizards are beating a team like the Bucks when Porter is not more involved on the offensive end.
The last time the Wizards met up with the Bucks they lost, and Porter didn’t play because he was out with a right hip strain.
Oubre and Sato putting the Bucks on posters
Kelly Oubre had a great game, and off the bench finished in double-digits with 19 points and five rebounds. He would also knock down another three to beat the buzzer to end the third quarter to cut the Bucks lead to six, 78-72.
It was deja vu all over again. Oubre had a deep three buzzer-beater in the third quarter, in last Saturday’s game against the Nets.
Oubre had three shots from 3-point range. He was also fouled on an attempted three by Eric Bledsoe, making all three of his free throws.
Oubre did an excellent job at the charity stripe, 6-for-7.
Tomas Satoransky was the alley-oop king. He had two oops in the game. One from Beal and another one from Wall. Sato finished with 7 points and was perfect from the free throw line, 3-for-3.
On Wednesday, the Wizards travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets.