Bench improvement helped break losing streak.
Improvement seen in win over Rockets
A plunge in bench production was a major concern during the Milwaukee Bucks’ recent fivegame losing skid.
So Bucks coach Jason Kidd was glad to see some improvement in his team’s 127-114 victory over Houston on Monday night.
The bench scored just 33 points, but center Greg Monroe had 17 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes and Malcolm Brogdon dished a team-high nine assists in 30 minutes. Brogdon worked in tandem with starter Matthew Dellavedova at certain points and the rookie played 10 minutes in the fourth quarter as the Bucks pulled away.
Veteran Jason Terry made a big contribution with eight points and three steals while hitting a pair of three-pointers.
Even a bench player who is struggling with his shot received praise from Kidd. Mirza Teletovic was 0 for 3 from three-point range and had two points and two rebounds in 18 minutes, but Kidd said the numbers did not show his true effectiveness.
“When Mirza plays our threes go up automatically even if he doesn’t make any,” Kidd said. “He spreads the floor; that’s what he does for us.
“I thought he was good even though he didn’t make a three. His shots were great and it’s just a matter of time for one of those to go down for him.”
The Bucks were effective from three-point range, hitting 11 of 23 attempts, including 3 for 3 by starting guard Tony Snell.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was 2 for 3 from beyond the arc and Jabari Parker was 2 for 5.
Teletovic hit 6 of 13 three-pointers during the back-to-back set against the New York Knicks earlier this month, but since then he has made just 1 of 16 over his last six appearances.
He is 0 for 11 in his last four games and has not made a threepointer since Jan. 8 against Washington.
“Basketball is ups and downs,” Kidd said. “He needs to continue taking those good shots.
“I thought he shot the ball well in Houston (last week) and they just didn’t go down for him (he was 0 for 4). They were great shots. But shooters have to keep shooting and he has the green light to keep doing that.”
Kidd used a four-man bench rotation against the Rockets and four reserves did not play: John Henson, Michael Beasley, Thon Maker and Rashad Vaughn.
Milwaukee ends its two-game homestand against Philadelphia on Wednesday night before heading to Toronto to face the Raptors on Friday night.
Getting rolling: Antetokounmpo said he thought center Miles Plumlee made an impact with his hard rolls to the rim and activity against the Rockets.
Plumlee returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 25 against Toronto and contributed 10 points in 20 minutes. The 6foot-11 Plumlee started the first eight games of the season and got one additional start before going to the bench.
He has not played by coach’s decision 13 times. The Bucks have three centers and inevitably one has to sit. On Monday it was Henson who got the DNP-CD (did not play-coach's decision).
“Miles rolls really well in pick and rolls,” Antetokounmpo said. “It puts pressure on the defense.
“And I think moving forward, having Miles on the floor gives us space. That guy (defender) has to commit. He’s going to be up to touch and stop our lane or Miles is going to be open.
“Or he has got to respect the lob pass to Miles, so someone is going to be open because he (Plumlee) rolls really hard.”
Jersey jump: The NBA announced Tuesday that Antetokounmpo ranked No. 14 in league jersey sales for the period of October through December.
It marked the first time a Bucks player has been in the top 15 in league jersey sales since Gary Payton during his short stint with Milwaukee in the spring of 2003.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry was No. 1 in jersey sales, based on NBAStore.com results. LeBron James was No. 2, followed by Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook.
Former Marquette players and current Chicago Bulls Dwyane Wade (No. 6) and Jimmy Butler (No. 9) ranked among the top 10, and it was Butler’s highest position on the list.