Bradley Beal’s 47 points not enough as Bucks blowout Washington Wizards, 151-131

The  WashingtonWizards failed to capitalize on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence Tuesday night as they lost to the Bucks 151-131.

The Washington Wizards’ Tuesday night loss to the Milwaukee Bucks was closer than the score would have you believe. But Bradley Beal’s season-high 47 points weren’t enough to overcome the championship roster the Bucks’ front office has put together in Milwaukee.

Washington walked into Tuesday night with an opportunity that a lot of teams never receive: Milwaukee’s best player, and reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo was absent due to soreness in his right shoulder. It was just his fourth missed game of the season.

But after falling into a 13-1 hole within the first few minutes, it was clear that the Wizards would have their hands full even with just his supporting cast. Ersan Ilyasova got things started for Milwaukee, scoring seven of their first ten points on his own.

And then three-pointers started falling like championship confetti in Fiserv Forum, and the Wizards never recovered. Milwaukee scored a season-high 42 points in the first quarter, to Washington’s 28, on 8-of-11 shooting from the three-point line.

Look. Everyone knows the Wizards are a bad defensive team. Maybe the worst of all time. But no one expected Milwaukee to come out this hot from the field. They finished the first half with 88 points on a 61/58/100 shooting split.

Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe combined for 50 points and eight made three-pointers.

https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1222341070219907077

For Washington, Beal was channeling his inner-James Harden in the first two quarters, with 24 points on 14-made free-throws.

At halftime, Milwaukee and Washington fans alike were probably changing the channel, leaving the couch and finding better ways to spend the next hour and change. But the Wizards met in the locker room, watched film, and came out ready to put a dent in their 25-point deficit.

To Washington’s credit, they were down 32 at one point in the first half. And then Beal came out of the break fuming and firing on all cylinders, cutting the Bucks lead to 17 within minutes. He had a monster dunk over Brook Lopez, and a three-pointer nearly back-to-back.

So, behind a 41-point third quarter of their own, Washington entered the fourth down just 15.

Head coach Scott Brooks opened up the fourth quarter with Ish Smith, Gary Payton II, Troy Brown Jr, Davis Bertans, and Thomas Bryant. Beal had played all but fifty seconds of the third quarter and undoubtedly needed some form of rest.

That lineup failed to yield the same, productive results that Beal no doubt assisted with during his time on the floor, and he was back on the court within a minute. Behind Bryant and Beal, Washington cut the fourth quarter lead down to 10 points, with seven minutes to go.

The Wizards fought, and fought, and fought; but never got any closer than a seven point reach in Milwaukee. Beal and Middleton went toe-to-toe, with the Bucks guard ultimately finishing with a career-high 51 points and a big statement in their win.

Washington has now given up 150+ points in back-to-back games. There’s no answer on the defensive end in sight, and Bradley Beal’s record setting scoring seems to be all in vain.

The Wizards will look to bounce back on Thursday, when they host Devonte Graham and the Charlotte Hornets in the first of a six-game home stand. Tip-off is at 7:00 pm est.