Doc Rivers, Giannis and Beasley speak on the Bucks loss to the Jazz
Doc Rivers, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Malik Beasley speak on the Bucks loss to the Jazz on Feb. 4, 2023
SALT LAKE CITY – In a game that featured two lengthy runs by each team, the Utah Jazz had its in the fourth quarter to come from 19 points down and beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 123-108, Sunday night at the Delta Center.
The Utah Jazz snapped a three game losing streak by using a 16-0 run to start the fourth quarter – a streak that it stretched to 21-3 – to outlast the Bucks (33-17), who were playing the second night of a back-to-back.
A Lauri Markkanen three-pointer capped that run for Utah, which gave it a 104-102 lead with 6 minutes, 23 seconds left in the game, and though a Giannis Antetokounmpo basket briefly put the Bucks back in front at 105-104, the momentum was too much to overcome.
In the final 5:37, Utah outscored the Bucks 18-3. In the entire fourth quarter, the Bucks were just 4 of 17 from the floor.
“I think we had great looks,” Bucks guard Malik Beasley said. “I think the offense was good, defense was OK. Not enough to over-panic. Just one of those games, back-to-back, in Utah. I think that we make a couple of those shots, things change. I think we all got great looks, me, Jae (Crowder), Bobby (Portis). Giannis did a great job kicking it out and making the right play. Couldn’t hit any.”
BOX SCORE: Jazz 123, Bucks 108
The Bucks (33-17) led by as many as 19 in the first half thanks to a 14-0 run to start the second quarter – a streak they stretched to 19-2 – to knock the Jazz on its heels. But the Jazz didn’t fold and it looked like the Bucks ran out of gas in the altitude of the Rocky Mountains.
“We couldn’t script better shots,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “Every shot was wide open, but everything was front rim. Probably should’ve gone to the post more but they were going to double and make us throw out and still would’ve led to a jump shot. Good job by them.”
While the Bucks won their first game under Rivers on Saturday in Dallas, they have lost three of four on the road trip since he took over on the bench on Jan. 29 in Denver. But there is a positive feel in the locker room, particularly because the players believe they are finally building a defensive identity through scheme and continuous effort — and the tweaks on offense are creating better shot opportunities.
“When everything settle down, we are going to be very, very fine, I really do believe,” Antetokounmpo said. “I believe we are trending towards the right direction.”
Over the last four games the Bucks have allowed an average of 118 points per game – nearly two full points below their season average heading into the game against the Jazz – and have held their opponents to under 30 points in eight of 16 quarters played.
“I think we’ve tried to simplify things to make it work for the guys that we have on our team and it’s been working,” Bobby Portis said. “I think (the things) we’ve been doing differently has been great and I think we’re trending in the right direction.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard play through injuries
Less than 24 hours after combining for 78 points on an incredible 30-for-39 shooting (76.9%) from the field in Dallas, Bucks star duo Giannis Antetokounmpo (right patella tendinitis) and Damian Lillard (sprained left ankle) hobbled into the Delta Center on Sunday as, essentially, game-time decisions for the Bucks.
Lillard seemed at less than full strength in going 5 for 16 from the field, including 1 for 6 from behind the three-point line, through three quarters – but when he threw down a dunk to end the third quarter he landed and immediately came up limping on that ankle.
The Bucks’ all-star point guard played 38 minutes and scored 12 points on 5-of-18 shooting.
“We think he’s OK, but he was struggling all game with the ankle,” Rivers said. “I swear there were times I was just gonna take him out. Even in…
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