Milwaukee 102, Cleveland 107
On day that Milwaukee learned Nikola Mirotic will be out 2-4 weeks with a thumb fracture, the Bucks were left with less than stellar numbers in Wednesday’s match up. With seven players out including Giannis Antetokounmpo, it was an uphill battle. The second game on the back to back ended with an unsurprising loss.
Middleton, Lopez, and Bledsoe all played over 35 minutes, which caused lackluster play and fatigue. The Bucks kept it close throughout the game , outscoring the Cavs 34-23 in the 3rd. It seemed though, if the Bucks took a step forward in the game, they would take three steps back. The lack of depth was too much to overcome.
https://twitter.com/BucksLead/status/1108540767381962758
Bucks Record Their 19th Loss
With Middleton and Bledsoe combining for 50 of the Bucks’ points, fans can hang their cap on the fact that this team showed up and gave it all that they had. There is a bigger purpose for Milwaukee this season and as much as a loss hurts, much cannot be dwelled on this loss. The Bucks will have an off day before they return home to take on the Miami Heat in what could be a potential first round playoff stint.
What to Watch For
The Bucks are closing in on the number one seed in the East, but how much longer until that becomes official?. As of now, the magic number is 8. The number decreases after a Bucks win or Raptors loss. This should be Milwaukee’s focus going forward. If the Bucks want to make a statement, they must finish this season strong. Having home court advantage throughout the playoffs will do wonders for this team.
