The Brooklyn Nets managed a late rally to overtake the Milwaukee Bucks with a score of 111-105 on Thursday night at the Fiserv Forum, despite the Bucks playing without their leading stars. This defeat marked yet another setback for the Milwaukee team which was already dealing with the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard due to non-COVID-19 related illnesses. According to FOX6 News, Cam Johnson and Noah Clowney of the Nets stepped up, scoring 29 and 20 points respectively in their victory.
Bobby Portis Jr., of the Bucks, expressed a no-excuses attitude after the game, saying, "It was more on us today, Ain’t no excuses made. We could’ve been way better," in a statement obtained by The Journal Sentinel. Portis, who had to fill in the gap left by Antetokounmpo, highlighted the team's shortcomings by pointing out that they were not sprinting back in transition, which allowed for easy points for the Nets.
This slump may continue as both Lillard and Antetokounmpo are questionable for the upcoming game against the Chicago Bulls. The team's performance has been oscillating in the absence of their star duo, with a notable high being a blowout win against the Bulls earlier this week, despite their absences. Yet, with both players potentially out for a fourth game, the Bucks' ability to maintain that level of play remains to be seen, as noted by Sports Illustrated.
Khris Middleton, returning from offseason bilateral ankle surgeries, has been working to regain his form, delivering a strong performance with 21 points in the recent clash with the Nets. However, even with Middleton's contributions, and the additional firepower from Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, the Bucks' loss to the Nets has placed a spotlight on their vulnerabilities without their leading men. The Bucks, presently the Eastern Conference’s No. 5 seed will have to navigate the challenges posed by the No. 10 seed Bulls – who have faced their own series of losses – in their upcoming matchup.
