The Milwaukee Bucks officially slumped to a dismal 1-6 record last night, extending their losing streak to three games after letting the Minnesota Timberwolves run away with a 112-100 win. This 1-6 start is only the fifth time in franchise history they’ve dug themselves into such a hole. It’s early, but man, this team looks lost right now.
Early Flashes, But No Lasting Fire
Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins tried to shake things up, dropping Ryan Rollins from the starting five and bringing in Brayden Burries. We saw some immediate impact, with Kyle Kuzma firing a perfect pass to Jaime Jaquez who rolled in the first points. But that good feeling evaporated fast. LaMelo Ball, who was absolutely everywhere, hit back-to-back long threes, sparking a 10-0 Wolves run and an eight point lead in under three minutes. Ball wasn’t done, draining his third triple just four minutes in, pushing Minnesota up 15-4 and forcing a Bucks timeout.
To their credit, Milwaukee didn’t fold. They clawed back with a 9-0 run of their own, fueled by threes from Jaquez, Burries, and Myles Turner. Burries really impressed, showing hustle on the offensive glass against bigger defenders and consistently finding open teammates. AJ Green even hit a pair of threes, Rollins got a driving layup, and Burries nailed a pull-up as the Bucks briefly took the lead. Tyler Herro also came alive, cashing back-to-back threes in the final minute to cut Minnesota’s lead to just one, 48-47, at halftime. They were fighting, man, they really were.
Ball Explodes, Bucks Stall Out
But you can only fight so long when a guy like LaMelo Ball is on another level. He caught fire again in the second quarter, pouring in 11 points on 4/7 shooting, and his presence just opened up everything for the Wolves. The Bucks actually did a decent job defensively taking away his passing game, with his first assist not coming until late in the third quarter. Still, Ball’s individual brilliance was undeniable. He finished with a season-high 34 points on 12/21 shooting, leading all scorers. And don’t sleep on Ayo Dosunmu, who nearly put up a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.
Milwaukee, despite holding it tight for much of the third quarter, just couldn’t contain the Wolves’ star. Myles Turner hit a three off a Kuzma kick-out, but Minnesota stayed in control. When it mattered most, the Bucks stalled out. That dominant final four minutes from the Timberwolves sealed their fate. Herro led the Bucks with 21 points, Jaquez added 19 points and eight boards, while Turner and Green each chipped in 13. Good individual numbers, sure, but not enough.
This 1-6 start is brutal. The team fought, but they’re not closing games, and the losses are piling up. What’s next for this squad? They need to figure it out, and fast, before this early hole becomes impossible to climb out of.
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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