Resistance is futile for Thunder-struck Bucks
Milwaukee defense no match for OKC’s high-octane attack
MILWAUKEE — Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder pretty much had it all their way attacking the lane against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.
When the reigning NBA MVP didn’t take it to the hoop himself, he found Steven Adams in the paint for an easy bucket. Other times, Paul George got his hands on the ball for a 3.
Too many options for OKC and not nearly enough defense for the Bucks in the Thunder’s 110-91 win.
“Russ pushes the tempo,” George said. “Nobody can push him out of the paint, and we’re getting wide open looks.”
George scored 20 points, hitting 4 of 8 from 3-point range. Westbrook had 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Carmelo Anthony scored eight of his 17 points in the pivotal first quarter.
Oklahoma City went from being down four to a 20-8 lead on George’s jumper with 4:16 left in the first quarter.
“We really moved the ball well and we generated highquality shots,” said Thunder coach Billy Donovan.
“We got a little bit lax and had a couple of possessions we needed to clean up, but I thought for the most part the guys did a good job of attacking their defense.”
Adams finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jerami Grant added 17 points off the bench for OKC.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting, but the NBA’s scoring leader spent much of the first quarter on the bench with two fouls as the Bucks struggled from the 3-point line, opening 1 of 14.
The star-laden Thunder taught a lesson to the up-andcoming Bucks, who hope to contend in the Eastern Conference.
“When we play the grownups, we’ve got to be ready, and we weren’t,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said.
Bogged down
Oklahoma City prides itself on defense, and the Thunder came into the game averaging a league-high 11.5 steals. They were second in the league in forcing 19.7 turnovers a night.
The Bucks coughed up the ball just 14 times but still came up well short. Khris Middleton (9 points, 7 rebounds) struggled from the field, going 3 of 13 and missing five 3-point attempts.
Kidd said it will be up to Antetokounmpo’s teammates to not try to force the ball to the star forward.
“Every night the defense wants to stop me from getting into the paint,” Antetokounmpo said. “I think I need to do a better job of getting there and making plays for my teammates.”
Grant finished 5 of 9 from the floor and scored 17 points for the first time since April 1, 2016. Milwaukee’s Tony Snell had a team-high five assists, the first time that he had at least five since March 28, 2015.
Tip-ins
Thunder: George, Anthony, Adams and Westbrook combined for 48 first-half points. The quartet alone outscored the Bucks in the half, who trailed 60-42 at halftime ... Among the star trio of Anthony, George and Westbrook, Anthony was the last to leave the floor for the night, playing until there were six minutes left in the game, with OKC leading by 23.
Bucks: The team had trouble getting anything going offensively with Antetokounmpo in foul trouble. Snell and Thon Maker hit back-to-back 3s late in the first half to end the 1-of-14 stretch. Milwaukee finished 9 of 30 for the night from behind the arc ... Center Greg Monroe’s inside presence was missed. The veteran is out for at least another 12 days with a strained left calf. The 6-foot11 Monroe helps open up the floor with his ability to score in the lane.