The Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns squared off yesterday afternoon for the team’s second straight game at home. Following a trip to the west coast where they lost three of their four games, Milwaukee was looking for their second straight victory. The Bucks also lost star player Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a hamstring injury, but they did get back forward Khris Middleton, who had been sidelined for over a month due to a left ankle strain.
Milwaukee’s pivotal second quarter, where they outscored the Suns 43-24 is one of the key reasons why the Bucks took this matchup at home. Also, Milwaukee was able to get win because of the play of Damian Lillard, and Bobby Portis Jr., who combined for 62 points on a combined 59 percent shooting from the field. Lillard also made during the team’s victory. The Bucks move to 44-24 and are half a game above the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Phoenix drops to 39-29, eighth in the Western Conference.
In the opening two and a half minutes of play, Phoenix surged out to a 9-3 lead over the Bucks. It would take Milwaukee five minutes to gain its first lead in the quarter. Up until Bobby Portis Jr.’s three-pointer in the final thirty seconds of the first quarter gave the Bucks a three-point advantage, these two teams would trade baskets back and forth. In the first twelve minutes, Portis Jr. scored 12 points while going perfect five for five.
In the second, Milwaukee began to get the upper hand. The group had a 20–6 run at one point, giving them a comfortable 19–point advantage. It was impossible to stop the Bucks, especially when they were behind the arc. They shot 16 for 28 from the field and an incredible 11 for 13 from three, making up around 85% of their total points from three-point range. The Milwaukee Bucks led by 22 points at the half thanks to their excellent three-point shooting and five steals. Once more, Portis Jr. proved to be this Bucks team’s hidden hero, scoring 13 points on five of eight shots, including three of three from beyond the arc.
