© Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Jae Crowder steps up in Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence
Jae Crowder did not disappoint when he started in place of the unavailable Giannis Antetokounmpo as he helped the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, 140-129.
Crowder actually started the 17th straight game, but this time, he filled in the power forward spot as Antetokounmpo sat out due to hamstring soreness. Jae effectively filled the void as he finished with 18 points on a 7-for-11 shooting from the field.
Timely scoring production
Crowder went 4-for-6 from the three-point area. Two of his three-pointers came in the closing minutes of the game that thwarted the Suns’ comeback attempt.
It was just the eighth this season that Crowder has scored in double digits. The last time he scored in double figures was during a 123-85 win over the Charlotte Hornets on February 27th, where he scored 10. He fell three points shy from matching his season-high of 21 points which he made in Milwaukee’s 105-129 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 8th.
Crowder already had eight points in the first quarter, but aside from his offensive production, he also played solid on the defensive end. The 12-year veteran helped limit Kevin Durant to just 11 points in 41 minutes of play.
Jae slowed down Kevin
One of Crowder’s strong defensive efforts on Durant happened late in the second quarter when he stole the ball from the Phoenix gunner, and as he fell to the floor, he threw an outlet pass to Patrick Beverley, who ended up hitting a three-pointer that gave Milwaukee a 69-53 lead.
“It’s a momentum play,” Crowder said of the play. “That’s what I felt when you saw me slapping the ground. Just momentum. I felt like the momentum was going our way big time, and I just tried to make a play.”
Durant attempted just ten shots in the entire contest.
“Obviously, he’s a hell of a scorer; I just tried to make it tough, make it physical a little bit for him, and I was able to come up with the steal,” said Crowder.
Crowder is just averaging 6.1 points per game this season. He tripled that scoring average at a time when the Bucks needed additional firepower as they solidified their hold on the second spot in the Eastern Conference with a 44-24 record.
