For the second time this month, the Washington Wizards were unable to beat the Milwaukee Bucks as they suffered a 104-95 defeat.
Playing a potential playoff foe for the second time within 10 days, both times on your home court, in the regular season does not happen fairly often but losing consecutive matchups is even rarer.
The Washington Wizards were unable to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, who were playing the tail end of a back-to-back, as they suffered a 104-95 defeat.
The ‘Greek Freak’ Giannis Antetokounmpo ended his evening with 27 points and a career-high 20 rebounds.
Although Milwaukee came into the game as the third worst 3-point shooting team at 34.6 percent, they made half of their 16 shots from 3-point range.
Eric Bledsoe, who helped lead the 11-0 fourth quarter run alongside Antetokounmpo, knocked down three 3-pointers, finishing the game with 23 points.
Season-high 24 turnovers
The Bucks gave the Washington offense fits all night forcing them to turn the ball over a season-high 24 times. Heading into the half, the Wizards already had 17. By the end of the game, they fell just six turnovers short of tying a franchise record.
Bradley Beal led the team in turnovers with seven and a -24 plus-minus. While John Wall had four of his own and a putrid 31.8 percent shooting, 7-for-22, from the field.
The Bucks capitalized on the Wizards struggles with 18 fastbreak points.
The highlight of the night occurred after Beal’s missed jumper when Ian Mahinmi struggled to corral the rebound. Just as Kelly Oubre was about to get his hands on the ball, Antetokounmpo whipped the ball behind him through his legs as if he was a football long snapper to Khris Middleton for a fastbreak jam.
"I probably could be a football player...what is that? A pitcher?" - @Giannis_An34 on his football pass to @Khris22m 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/y7GykywrEi
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 16, 2018
Otto Porter’s struggles continue
In the Wizards’ Jan. 6 loss to the Bucks, Otto Porter didn’t touch the hardwood. While Wall and Beal combined for 84 minutes of play and 38 shots taken.
In Monday’s matchup, the backcourt’s combined playing time was similar with 82 minutes and 39 shots taken, due to the lack of production from Porter.
Porter only took eight field goal attempts, showing the lack of aggression that has prevented the fourth-year forward from taking the next step forward to stardom.
After his hot October start, where he took 13.2 field goal attempts and 18.7 points per game, he has consistently regressed to an unappealing 9.7 field goal attempts and 8.8 points per game. With his 37.9 percent shooting from the field (20 percent from three), you might want to look the other way.
Air Satoransky
Tomas Satoransky had a couple highlight reel plays worth watching. Please direct your attention below.
https://twitter.com/NBCSWizards/status/953009914062016517
On Wednesday, the Wizards travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets.