Okay, so the Milwaukee Bucks officially kicked off their new era with a tough loss, dropping their preseason opener to the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-97. Rough start, for sure, at Fiserv Forum, but man, there were some wild moments that got you thinking about what this squad *could* be.
Rollins Goes Wild, Ware Shows Out
Seriously, how do you foul out in just 14 minutes but still lead your team in scoring? That’s exactly what Ryan Rollins did, dropping 15 points for the Bucks. The dude was on a mission! He even got a sweet feed from Myles Turner for his first bucket and then doubled down on the very next possession. But talk about a rollercoaster, right? He got sent to the locker room after taking a nasty elbow to the eye early on, and then, yeah, the fouls piled up super fast. Kevin Porter Jr. had to come in as the first sub for him. It was a chaotic performance, but you gotta admit, 15 points in 14 minutes is kinda insane, no matter how many fouls.
And hey, it wasn’t just Rollins flashing potential. Kel’el Ware looked legit too, snagging a double-double and looking like a beast on the offensive glass alongside Jericho Sims. Ware even drained his second above-the-break three of the night, showing off some range. Both Bucks rookies showed promise, which, for a preseason opener where you’re down big, is definitely a silver lining. Brayden Burries even got in on the action, hitting a three and looking good.
Defense Needs Work, Shots Not Falling Yet
Look, we can’t ignore the numbers. The Bucks shot a brutal 6/28 in the first quarter, ending up down 31-20. That’s just not gonna cut it, even in preseason. They were getting plenty of good looks, but just couldn’t convert ’em. Tyler Herro did manage to hit back-to-back threes, which was a nice spark, and Turner hit one to get them within three at one point, 35-32. But the defense? Yikes. They were struggling big time without fouling, and then they just let Jaden McDaniels sneak behind the defense for the easiest two points after Kyle Kuzma bricked a free throw. Seriously? Come on.
The Timberwolves, on the other hand, made it count. Wolves newcomer Jonathan Kuminga opened the scoring with a nasty slashing layup, and then Anthony Edwards sparked a brutal 12-0 run that included alley-oop finishes from Kuminga and Rudy Gobert. LaMelo Ball swished a corner trey, too. That forced Coach Taylor Jenkins to call a timeout, trying to stop the bleeding, but Milwaukee still went into halftime down 60-48. It felt bleak, and Jenkins swapped in Burries to try and change the energy. Gary Trent Jr. dished out two assists for threes, and Sims got a flush, but it wasn’t enough to claw back before the break.
So yeah, the Bucks took the L against the Wolves. Coach Chris Finch even pulled his starters to begin the second half, which tells you how much Minnesota was feeling it. But amidst the sloppy play and the tough shooting night, those glimpses from Rollins and the rookies are what you take away from this one. It’s preseason, so you’re looking for that raw potential, those flashes. Rollins’ wild 15 points, Ware’s double-double, and those rookie moments? That’s what you build on. The defense has to tighten up, no doubt, and those shots gotta start falling, but hey, the “new era” has officially begun, and there’s definitely something to watch for as they keep shaking off the rust.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Brew Hoop.
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