Bucks Zone

“There was maybe an extra bit of energy, competitiveness and drive” - Mike Budenholzer praises three Warriors with Milwaukee connections

These three have a special kind of motivation when going up against the Bucks.
Matthew Dugandzic|
“There was maybe an extra bit of energy, competitiveness and drive” - Mike Budenholzer praises three Warriors with Milwaukee connections
“There was maybe an extra bit of energy, competitiveness and drive” - Mike Budenholzer praises three Warriors with Milwaukee connections

In this story:

Milwaukee BucksGolden State Warriors

The Milwaukee Bucks saw their short three-game winning streak come to an end when they bowed to the Golden State Warriors via overtime on Saturday night, 125-116.

The other guys

While it was Stephen Curry’s endgame heroics that propelled Golden State to the tight win, three other Warriors with Milwaukee connections also figured prominently in that win.

“They’re great players, and they played well tonight. Give them credit,” said Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer.

Budenholzer was referring to Milwaukee natives Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney and former Buck Donte DiVincenzo. The Warriors, indeed, could not have done it without Poole, Looney, and DiVincenzo.

DiVincenzo, who played for four seasons with the Bucks, finished with 20 points, ten rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.

Looney tallied seven points, 15 boards, four assists, and five steals, while Poole came away with 13 points, two boards, four assists, and a steal.

Extra motivation

Budenholzer believed that the three players were extra motivated playing against the Bucks.

“I’m sure for those guys specifically, there was maybe an extra bit of energy, competitiveness and drive but all those guys are great players,” said Budenholzer.

It is worth noting that DiVincenzo and Looney both reached double figures in rebounds, as rebounding was key in the tightly contested match.

The Warriors amassed a total of 65 rebounds, while the Bucks could only collect 48 rebounds. Golden State also earned more extra possessions after collaring 18 offensive rebounds to Milwaukee’s seven.

Milwaukee actually had a three-point lead in the final 30 seconds of regulation but couldn’t hang on. The loss was indeed a bitter pill to swallow for the Bucks, no thanks to those three players who, in one way or another, have links with Milwaukee. 

Published
Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.