Bucks Zone

The Milwaukee Bucks suffer an embarrassing loss to the depleted Memphis Grizzlies

The Bucks will head to the All-Star break with two straight ugly losses.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Milwaukee BucksMemphis Grizzlies

The Milwaukee Bucks’ struggles this season hit a new low after they suffered an embarrassing 110-113 loss to the severely depleted Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night.

Coming off a 97-123 loss to a Miami Heat squad that didn’t have Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, and Josh Richardson, the Bucks turned in another disappointing performance and failed to overcome the Grizzlies, who were without starters Desmond Bane, Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Marcus Smart and six other players.

Giannis’ wasted effort

Not even Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 43rd double-double of the season could save the Bucks, who will head to the All-Star break reeling from two straight disappointing losses. Milwaukee fell to 3-7 under Doc Rivers and 35-21 in the season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 35 points, 12 assists, and four rebounds, Damian Lillard had 24 points but was 7-of-21 from the field and 3-for-13 from three-point range. Bobby Portis Jr. added 15 points, and Brook Lopez had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks.

Ziare Williams and GG Jackson led Memphis’ massive upset win by firing 27 points each. Zaire’s output was a career-high. Vince Williams Jr. added 18 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists as the Grizzlies chalked up their second straight win to climb to 20-36 in the season.

Rally fell short

The Grizzlies, who won just for the second time in the last 11 games, led by as many as ten points, but the Bucks rallied and took a 102-101 lead in the final 3:29. Despite their lack of manpower, Memphis was able to withstand the Bucks’ fightback, answering with their own run to take 113-104 lead with only 49.8 seconds left.

Milwaukee did not give up easily as Malik Beasley hit back-to-back triples that shoved the Bucks within 110-113 left with 29.6 ticks to go. Lillard drew an offensive foul from Vince, and the Bucks regained ball possession for a chance to tie with 11.2 seconds to go.

Milwaukee’s last possession went awry as Lillard fumbled with the ball at halfcourt, and was forced to take a hurried three-pointer that hit nothing but air as time ran out.

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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.