It was the match to watch this evening in the NBA, the clash between Suns and Bucks was an offensive festival despite the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The big winners of the meeting? The Bucks armed with insolent skill and a Damian Lillard – Bobby Portis duo as hot as embers.
The Phoenix Suns, sixth in the West before the match, had a big game to play this evening: the opportunity to keep the Kings at bay by subduing the Bucks deprived of their MVP candidate, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Things were taking a good turn until the intervention of Bobby Portis who entered the field during the game.
Bobby Buckets and his big eyes, with whom the Suns are definitely succeeding rather well, makes an impossible mess in the Phoenix defense. The extent of the damage? Bob has 25 points on the clock… and there are more than 6 minutes left in the second quarter! A scoring performance that no one has yet achieved off the bench this season, and which is not common for the starters either. Completely incandescent and incapable of missing a 3-pointer, Bobby Portis once again transformed into a providential man for the Bucks against the Suns.
Bobby Portis is on FIRE against the Suns in the first half🎯
▫️ 25 PTS
▫️ 5-5 3PM
🎥 @NBApic.twitter.com/WG1XvyrdFU
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) March 17, 2024
The rest of the Bucks squad? We have a Pat Beverley who would rather bang his head against the corner of a piece of furniture than put a floater near the circle, but then from the parking lot, it’s the entire herd of Deer that waters all the lawns in Wisconsin ! 18 3-point shots made in this first half (for 27 attempts), an all-time record equaled in the NBA! On the other hand, the Suns only attempted 13 long hauls. At the end of the half, the Bucks comfortably lead 82 to 60 and the Suns are going through hell on the perimeter.
Returning from the locker room, the ball circulates well on the counterattack for Milwaukee but we feel that it would work even better with a strong, athletic winger to complete certain actions. Khris Middleton, who had not played since February 6, made a good return (22 points and 7 assists at 8/15 shooting and 2/4 from distance) but was powerless against the Suns’ big run on the third quarter time. A big 22-7 to get back to -6, the Bucks are burning the plate! Milwaukee regains the gap a little with shots but it is above all Damian Lillard who sends a message by swinging a huge winning shot almost eleven meters from the basket to end the third quarter.
LOGO LILLARD BEATS THE 3Q BUZZER! pic.twitter.com/Zccw1t6m4K
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 17, 2024
The Suns will not recover and will not be able to seriously get back into the game in the fourth quarter. 140-129 final score. Having started too far behind with a huge delay in scoring, it was also impossible to count on their leader this evening in scoring: Kevin Durant finished with only 11 points while Bradley Beal slowly gained strength with 28 points. On the Bucks side, 31 points and 10 rebounds for Bobby Portis coming off the bench, while Lillard makes Daims history by becoming the first player in their history to finish a match with 30 points and 15 assists minimum (31 and 16) . Oscar Robertson? Do not know.
First Buck ever with 30+ PTS and 15+ AST in a game.
Damian Lillard. pic.twitter.com/7293VJ9J5H
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 17, 2024
140 points for the Bucks tonight, the highest total since coach Doc Rivers was there. With the Bucks having only had their Antetokounmpo – Lillard – Middleton trio three games this season, we are starting to say that as a whole, they could really hurt the other big guys in the East during the Playoffs.
Bobby Portis dominated in the 1st half… Dame Lillard finished it off in the 2nd half. Each scored 31 to lead the @Bucks past the Suns 🦌🦌
Dame: 31 PTS, 4 3PM, 16 AST (ties career high)
BP: 31 PTS (25 in 1H), 5-5 3PM, 10 REB, 3 STL pic.twitter.com/SBiSycVTby
— NBA (@NBA) March 17, 2024
2024-03-17 21:05:00
#Bucks #deprived #Giannis #pay #Suns #full
