The Milwaukee Bucks dropped their first game of the post-Giannis era, falling 128-116 on the road to the Washington Wizards. While it’s only one game, the elephant in the room was a monster performance from Anthony Davis, who absolutely beasted Milwaukee for 34 points and nine boards. You just couldn’t stop him, and that’s a brutal way to kick off a new chapter.
Early Bucks Energy Showed Promise
Despite the gut-punch loss, it wasn’t all bad news for Milwaukee fans. Tyler Herro dropped 24 points and dished out nine assists, looking sharp. And off the bench, Kasparas Jakucionis led all scorers with 15 points, which is a great sign for the squad’s depth. The game actually started with some serious energy. Kyle Kuzma and Jaime Jaquez Jr. got the first two buckets for Milwaukee, and Jaquez, just like we expected, was a calming presence out there. He went 3/4 for seven points and grabbed three rebounds in that first quarter alone, playing with a high motor. The team matched that energy, even with some early-season rust showing, shooting 40% from the field. Ousmane Dieng even had an impressive move, splitting two defenders off a high dribble to finish at the rim. Coach Jenkins wasn’t shy about getting guys involved, either. Ten players saw four or more minutes in the first, which is what fans want to see, even if the results were a bit mixed. After one, the Wizards were up slightly, 25-23.
Milwaukee’s Fight… Until AD Took Over
The second quarter kicked off with a bang for Brayden Burries, who drew a foul and hit two free throws for his first points in the NBA. Then he dropped his first field goal, a smooth and-one after zipping past Trae Young. That put the Bucks ahead 28-25, and the pace just kept rolling. Milwaukee went on a 9-0 run over two minutes, with Jaquez continuing to convert high-percentage shots at the rim. They pushed the lead to 39-34. The ball was moving fast, and they absolutely dominated in transition, outscoring Washington 12-2. Herro closed out the half leading the team with 14 points on 50% shooting. The Bucks were up 56-51 at halftime, out-rebounding Washington 26-22, out-assisting them 14-11, and outscoring them 33-26 in the quarter. The third quarter started with the same intensity and ball movement, with Jaquez and Herro combining for 10 of the Bucks’ first 13 points. It was gritty, physical play, exactly what you want to see. But then came the problem: Anthony Davis. That dude absolutely monstered Milwaukee’s smaller, weaker front line. By the time the third quarter was getting underway, Davis already had 30 points on 10/19 shooting in just 27 minutes. Myles Turner got a few buckets going on offense, but he wasn’t doing much to slow down AD on the other end. Burries…
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Originally reported by Brew Hoop.
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