Better bomb control
Perimeter defense helps Bucks rally
The Milwaukee Bucks finally stopped the Portland Trail Blazers’ three-point blitz.
When they did, the Bucks walked out of the BMO Harris Bradley Center with a vital victory on Wednesday night.
Milwaukee erased a sevenpoint halftime deficit to defeat the Trail Blazers, 115-107, before a crowd of 14,033. Giannis Antetokounmpo posted his second triple-double of the season (15 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists) and Jabari Parker paced the Bucks (11-9) with 27 points.
Portland hit just 5 of 18 three-point attempts in the second half after a sizzling start beyond the arc (12 of 22 in the first half).
Damian Lillard paced the Trail Blazers (12-11) with 30 points and CJ McCollum added 23, but Lillard was just 2 of 8 from the field in the second half and 0 of 5 from three-point distance.
“We made a change; we tried to put a little bit bigger body on Lillard,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said of switching Tony Snell on him in the third quarter. “I thought he (Lillard) was going to end up with 50, the way he was going and the way he was shooting the ball.
“When he’s in that mode, I’ve seen enough of that where it’s going to be hard to stop him. We tried to make it tough. We sent a couple bodies at him and we got lucky he missed some shots. That defense in that second half was one of our best.”
Matthew Dellavedova had 17 points, including three key baskets late in the game to help the Bucks hold off a Portland rally. Michael Beasley had 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Dellavedova hit consecutive floaters to put the Bucks ahead, 105-99, with 3 minutes left, after two triples by Allen Crabbe and one by McCollum had brought Portland within two points.
“We trust Delly,” Kidd said. “There’s never any panic; he’s always under control. He’s always trying to help his teammates. He didn’t play a lot of minutes there (in the fourth quarter) but he’s always engaged in the game and when you call his number he’s always ready to respond.”
Parker had 13 points in the
first quarter as he repeatedly drove into the Portland defense and hit 6 of 9 shots.
Crabbe sank a threepointer and Meyers Leonard hit two triples before Malcolm Brogdon drilled a three for the Bucks to give them a 45-42 lead midway through the second quarter.
Lillard was 5 of 8 on threes in the half and scored 22 points as Portland took a 58-51 lead.
The Bucks made a move early in the third quarter, getting threes from Tony Snell and Dellavedova and a Parker drive to tie the score at 6262. Milwaukee outscored Portland, 34-18, in the quarter to take an 85-76 lead.
Parker had 10 points and three rebounds in the third quarter.
“He’s JP right now,” Antetokounmpo said. “He’s in attack mode.”
Antetokounmpo said he did not know he had a triple-double, the seventh of his career, putting him in second place on the Bucks’ list and just one behind all-time leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“I’ve got to figure out different ways to help my teammates, rebound the ball and play defense,” Antetokounmpo said. “Try to be early in the rotations. Not focusing on just scoring; some nights it’s not going to be there.
“It’s a great win for the team. We’re back in rhythm where we want to be. Everyone did a great job; the bench did a great job.”