THE BUCKS RUNDOWN
Milwaukee Bucks top the Detroit Pistons thanks mainly to a historic 43-point Pat Connaughton performance that lifted Milwaukee over the red-hot Pistons. After ruling primarily everyone out the day before due to clinching the 5th seed, Milwaukee was able to find scoring without their usual players.
The Bucks started fast, getting out to a 20-point lead in the first, but the Pistons were able to close it. Inching back into it with a barrage of threes in the 3rd quarter. Keeping it neck and neck with the Bucks, both teams needed extra time to close it out as a rough series of events resulted in a seven-point lead with seconds to go being erased. But it wouldn’t matter, Milwaukee would pull it out in the extra period and win it 140-133.
Coming into the game, Pat Connaughton’s career high was 24, dating back to his time with the Portland Trail Blazers. Now it’s 43 after the historical game that puts him in the same company as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Pat was able to join this legendary trio after putting up a stat line of over 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists; they are the only players in Bucks history to put up numbers like that. This is a testament to just how deep this Milwaukee Bucks bench is, a quality of the team that will be much needed in the first round of the playoffs.
Pat Connaughton had this to say about his performance against the Pistons on Sunday:
“I just wanted to win the game.. I always knew it would be hard to score this many points. I think it’s underrated how much it takes out of you by the time you get to overtime.”
Stated Connaughton, when asked about being in the same conversation as Kareem, Giannis, and Khris, Connaughton had this to say:
“I think it’s incredible because I look up to those guys. They’ve done a lot for me and my NBA career, and I think we’ve done a lot together.”
UPCOMING
After the play-in matches have concluded, Milwaukee will look to face the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. They were able to take the 5th seed from the Pistons with their previous win over them, this win did not affect the standings at all. Now the Pacers are set to rematch a Bucks team that’s starting to get its legs underneath it at the right time.
The Bucks’ depth has been on full display over these last few months, resulting in a few head-scratching wins, as well as losses. This team has the depth to carry them over the top of most teams in the league, but they desperately need to get their star Point Guard back healthy once again. Damian Lillard, who has improved mightily this year, is still healing from his bout with deep vein thrombosis. The team is not expecting him back right away in the playoffs, meaning there’s a chance the Bucks could be without him the entire first round.
Kevin Porter Jr, Gary Trent Jr, and even AJ Green have been a carousel of consistency, but they have started to click recently, resulting in the Bucks finishing the regular season on an eight-game win streak. All three players have different characteristics that have been helping manage the loss of Lillard. Shooting, playmaking, and consistent defense have been primary factors for each of these players. If Lillard is out for longer than was anticipated, these guys will need to put on their playoff pants, as it is a whole other beast compared to the regular season.
