Long-ball strategy, reappearance of defense deliver win
INDIANAPOLIS - On Friday night the Milwaukee Bucks looked like they didn’t have a clue in an embarrassing homecourt loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Twenty-four hours later, the Bucks looked like world-beaters.
They played with precision and effort in a convincing 116100 victory over the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. And the defense that has been missing in recent games?
Matthew Dellavedova set the gritty tone after asking coach Jason Kidd if he could guard Pacers all-star Paul George. Dellavedova helped limit George to just 13 points.
After allowing the Lakers to shoot 82% in the first quarter Friday, the Bucks limited the Pacers to 33% shooting in the opening quarter while grabbing a seven-point lead.
Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks (23-30) with 20 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Mirza Teletovic had 19 points in just 17 minutes.
The Bucks hit a season-high 17 three-pointers in 31 attempts,
led by Teletovic’s 5-for-9 effort. They also tied a season low with seven turnovers and had 28 assists on 35 field goals.
“We’ve been scarred a little bit in having to dig ourselves out of a hole,” Kidd said. “We got off to a better start. It wasn’t easy. Now can we bottle this up and finish on a positive note (before the allstar break).”
Greg Monroe, who spoke up at halftime Friday after the Bucks allowed 76 points to the Lakers in the opening half, said this is the way the Bucks can play if they stay focused.
“When we get stops and we get out and run, that’s when we’re at our best,” Monroe said. “Guys were making shots from long range. It was definitely a complete game for us and it’s a game that we needed.”
Monroe led a huge effort from the Bucks bench as he contributed 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Malcolm Brogdon had 17 points and Rashad Vaughn played steady defense in 25 minutes.
Rookie Thon Maker started at center in place of John Henson and delivered a strong performance, finishing with 12 points and sinking 3 of 5 three-pointers.
Dellavedova said the team defense was much improved.
“We’ve been talking about defense for a while,” he said. “We have not been able to do it consistently for 48 minutes. I think tonight is the first game in a long time that we’ve been able to sustain it. For us to be successful that’s what we need to do.”
C.J. Miles led Indiana (29-25) with 23 points and Monta Ellis and Myles Turner each had 18.
The Bucks limited Indiana to 22 points in the first quarter, one night after being blitzed for 47 first-quarter points by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Every Bucks player who participated in the first half was in the scoring column, led by Teletovic with 13 points and Monroe with 11, as Milwaukee built a 62-52 lead.
Indiana opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run to tie the score at 62all, but the Bucks responded with a 9-0 run that was critical. Antetokounmpo scored four points in the run while Dellavedova hit a three-pointer and Beasley dunked off a Monroe assist.
Antetokounmpo picked up his fourth foul with 3:41 left in the third quarter and the Bucks leading by 13.
He returned at the 8:23 mark of the fourth with Milwaukee ahead by 12.
Ellis scored six quick points in one stretch to trim the Bucks’ lead to 9385 before Brogdon sank a corner three.
Maker drilled a three from the corner to give the Bucks a 100-87 lead, and Dellavedova and Brogdon sent fans to the exits with back-to-back threes that gave the Bucks a 106-88 lead with 2:34 remaining.