Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images
In a potential NBA Finals preview, the Milwaukee Bucks bested the Golden State Warriors 118-99 on Thursday at Fiserv Forum to move to 27-17 on the season. The victory helps Milwaukee keep pace with the Eastern Conference’s best, including the Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat.
It was an impressive win for the Bucks and a great stepping stone after entering having lost four of their last five games by nine points or fewer. Everything was clicking for Milwaukee on Thursday night, and they’ll be looking to keep that momentum going moving forward.
Notable Stats
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, MIL: 30 PTS, 11 REB, 12 AST, 3 BLK
Stephen Curry, PG, GSW: 12 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL
Khris Middleton, SF, MIL: 23 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL
Klay Thompson, SG, GSW: 11 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL
Bobby Portis, C, MIL: 20 PTS, 7 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK
Giannis Antetokounmpo Strengthens MVP Case
MVP, just maybe.
There is no one quite like Antetokounmpo, and the 27-year-old strengthened his MVP case on Thursday night with a triple-double against the Warriors, which was his third of the season.
He is just the second player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in three different seasons, joining Oscar Robertson, and could become the only player in league history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in four separate seasons.
Amid Curry’s shooting slump, Antetokounmpo has rose in the NBA MVP race. According to Basketball Reference, he is currently the favorite to take home the hardware with a 28.1 percent probability. The second-closest player is Nikola Jokic, who currently has a 19.6 percent probability.
Antetokounmpo previously won the MVP award during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. During the 2018-19 campaign, the Greek Freak averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks. He followed that up averaging 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, one steal and one block during the 2019-20 season.
For comparison, the five-time All-Star entered Thursday averaging 28.4 points (third in the NBA), 11.4 rebounds, six assists, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
While it’s definitely still early to be crowning an MVP, Antetokounmpo will seemingly lock up the award if he continues to be consistent, which shouldn’t be too difficult if Milwaukee goes on a streak following Thursday’s massive win over Curry, another MVP candidate, and the Warriors.
However, Reggie Miller noted that Curry “still feels like” the leader in the MVP race, which means the award is really anyone’s for the taking right now.
Warriors’ Shooting Slump Continues
The Warriors are in the midst of their worst stretch of the 2021-22 season, and arguably the worst stretch since Steve Kerr took over as head coach before the 2014-15 season. Not only have the Dubs been struggling defensively, but they seemingly can’t make a shot.
Golden State entered Thursday’s game shooting worse than 43 percent in each of its last four games, including below 24 percent from distance. Those numbers hit new lows against Milwaukee.
The Warriors’ shooting woes were more prevalent in the first half as they were shooting less than 30 percent and entered halftime down 77-38. It was the team’s largest deficit since moving to California in 1962-63.
However, things didn’t get much better in the second half as the team finished 33 of 95 (34.7 percent) from the field and 16 of 48 (33.3 percent) from deep.
One player that’s particularly struggled over Golden State’s last few games is Curry. The two-time MVP is in a rare shooting slump, entering Thursday’s game shooting just over 31 percent and just over 20 percent from deep in his last four games.
Curry also entered shooting a career-low 42 percent from the field and 38.4 percent from three-point range through 37 games this season. Before the 2021-22 season, he had never shot below 40 percent from deep.
But while Curry is in this uncharacteristic stretch, it doesn’t seem to be bothering him. In fact, he told reporters before Thursday’s game against the Bucks that he’s not necessarily frustrated with his current percentages, but the team needs to do a better job of opening up the floor to make shots.
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Talked to Steph Curry about his dipped shooting percentages and the familiar on/off ball debate: “It’s very refreshing that wasn’t a conversation while I was playing well for so long. Now that I’m not, it comes back up. Like clockwork. I love it.” <a href=”https://t.co/b5MrjhQT8Z”>pic.twitter.com/b5MrjhQT8Z</a>
Kerr also addressed the team’s scoring issues following Tuesday’s loss to the Grizzlies, saying exactly what Curry said about simplifying things and getting more people open for simply buckets.
“I think just as a team, if we simplify our shot process of really trying to move the ball, to really trying to get a great shot, it’ll help our whole team and it’ll help Steph,” Kerr said.
Golden State’s shooting woes go beyond Curry, and the team definitely has a lot to figure out, but it won’t be difficult for the Dubs to catch fire again. Curry is one of the best shooters in NBA history, Thompson is finally back on the court and Andrew Wiggins will once again find his footing.
If the team can’t figure things out quickly, they’ll fall further behind the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference standings. However, this slump likely won’t continue, and it’s only a matter of time before the Warriors pick of the pieces and put the puzzle back together.
What’s Next?
The Warriors will be on the road to face the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 Bulls on Friday, while the Bucks will host the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.
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