Bucks at OKC

Bucks only up 5 after one. Mainly because OKC is 5 for 9 from three.

Bucks up 11 at the half. Giannis hits a 30 foot pull-up 3 to head into the locker room with 18 in the half.

Bucks get up 18 in the third, but can't completely put them away and the lead is down to 12 after Nwora and Giannis miss layups on back to back possessions.

Bucks get up 19 again and then when they sit Giannis it immediately falls to 13. Still comfortable, but Gilgeous-Alexander already has 30 in the third.

Thank you for keeping those of us that cant watch it updated.

Bucks up 18 with less than a minute left and screw up the last 30 seconds by giving up a 3, turnover, giving up a 3, turnover. Still some work to do. Up 12 going to the 4th.

Giannis hits a wide open 3 (4 for 4 tonight).

Bucks up 19

Bucks get it back up to 19 and then get blitzed for 8 points in a minute. Back down to 12.

Nwora, who had been playing better, had one of his patented throw the ball to nobody after a drive that lead to wide open 3 to cut it to 12.

After the timeout, the Bucks go 7-0 with Giannis sitting. Back up to 19.

Middleton hits another 3. Now a 22 point lead.

Giannis probably done for the night. Ends with 39-7-7 in 27 minutes.

Sounds like this one is over.

@MNPackman posted:

Sounds like this one is over.

Nwora played 38 minutes. Everyone else under 30 minutes. Matthews only played 5 and G. Allen sat out, so they should be as rested as possible for the back-to-back tomorrow against the Hawks.

The stat line from Giannis is ridiculous

Almost 40 points in like 28 minutes?

Seems like Ibaka is starting to settle in a bit  as he got 14/7 and shot 2/3 from 3.  Portis with a monster game yet again.

I know OKC isn’t very good but if you are a team in the East do you want to play this Bucks team in the playoffs?   Let the media carry on about Miami and Philly and even Chicago (lol) and now Boston.   The Bucks have been and still will be the team to beat.

I think Giannis could have scored 60 last night if he/Bud had wanted. Someone on Twitter mentioned that a couple of his drives looked like he was in Space Jam last night. Dribble once from about 18 feet and extend his arm and dunk over 3 guys.

Of course, I think Middleton could have had 40 as well.

When Ibaka first got here, it looked like he was old and stiff. He looks significantly better the last 3-4 games.

The biggest positive is how good Javon Carter has meshed. I don't expect him to keep shooting anywhere near 53% from three (9 for 17 since joining the Bucks), but his ball pressure is outstanding on defense. With George Hill's sore neck about to keep him out for going on 7 weeks, they are going to need wing defense in the playoffs. Carter is short (about 6'1") but has a decent wingspan (6'5"). He's like a miniature PJ Tucker in how he plays. He can't guard guys like Tatum or Durant, but he's a perfect guy to try to slow down Kyrie Irving or Kyle Lowry.

I’ll admit Javon Carter has looked pretty damn good.   He already had a reputation for being a decent wing defender, but he’s been hitting outside shots at a high rate for the Bucks.  He’s a decent compliment to Holiday off the bench because he’s tough and tenacious against other guards.  Against Chicago, he really clamped down on LaVine who is an elite scorer in the East.   If George Hill can’t recover, I see him being an important piece off the bench.

As for Serge Ibaka, he’s the perfect fit for this team and another (sort of) insurance policy for Lopez.  He’s a career 39% shooter from 3 in the playoffs, and is still willing to mix it up defensively and hit the glass.   He will also draw defenders away from the paint thus opening things up for others.