Milwaukee left Washington with a three‑point win, a 3‑0 sweep of the season series, and plenty to ponder after a tight finish in front of 18,865 fans in D.C.
The Night in a Nutshell
- Milwaukee erased a 13‑point first‑quarter hole behind balanced scoring and a dominant third period.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo was effective (18 points on 6‑for‑9 shooting) but fouled out after only 19 minutes.
- Kyle Kuzma, playing his first game back in Washington since a deadline trade, poured in a team‑high 19.
- Rookie center Alex Sarr’s career‑best 22 kept the Wizards in it until Khris Middleton’s last‑second three sailed long.
How the Game Unfolded
1. Fiery first quarter (Wizards 32, Bucks 19)
Washington sprinted out of the gate, shooting 59 percent in the opening period while Milwaukee misfired on 12 of 19 attempts. Sarr splashed two early threes and threw down a thunderous put‑back dunk, energizing a Wizards squad trying to snap a skid.
2. Course correction (Halftime: Wizards 56, Bucks 50)
Mike Budenholzer’s group steadied itself by leaning on Brook Lopez in the post and letting Kuzma hunt mismatches on the wing. Milwaukee out‑scored Washington 31‑24 in the second, trimming the gap to six despite Giannis sitting with three fouls.
4. The decisive swing (Bucks 34, Wizards 19 in the third)
Ryan Rollins and A.J. Green combined for five triples as the Bucks poured in 34 points. A 14‑2 burst flipped the scoreboard, giving Milwaukee its first double‑digit edge. Giannis picked up fouls four and five, but the bench, especially Jericho Sims on the glass, covered the void.
4. Last‑ditch drama
The Bucks went cold for the final seven minutes—no baskets, just free throws—but Lopez calmly hit both shots with 38.5 seconds left to nudge the visitors ahead 104‑101. On the final possession, Middleton, acquired for Kuzma in that deadline swap, let fly from the right wing. The ball thudded off the rim, and Milwaukee escaped.
Player-By‑Player Glance
| Milwaukee | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | STL/BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Kuzma | 34 | 8‑19 | 2‑7 | 1‑2 | 8 | 5 | 1 / 0 | 19 |
| Brook Lopez | 30 | 5‑8 | 2‑4 | 6‑8 | 9 | 2 | 1 / 2 | 18 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 19 | 6‑9 | 0‑0 | 6‑11 | 6 | 3 | 1 / 1 | 18 |
| Ryan Rollins | 34 | 6‑10 | 2‑5 | 1‑1 | 4 | 4 | 3 / 1 | 15 |
| A.J. Green | 37 | 3‑9 | 3‑9 | 0‑0 | 3 | 3 | 1 / 1 | 9 |
Bench highlight – Bobby Portis’ suspension left Pat Connaughton (4 pts) and Corey Trent Jr. (9 pts) to soak up minutes.
| Washington | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | STL/BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Sarr | 26 | 8‑19 | 4‑10 | 2‑6 | 7 | 1 | 2 / 1 | 22 |
| Corey Kispert | 23 | 6‑11 | 4‑7 | 0‑0 | 2 | 2 | 0 / 0 | 16 |
| Khris Middleton | 25 | 4‑10 | 1‑4 | 3‑3 | 5 | 2 | 2 / 0 | 12 |
| Jordan Poole | 31 | 3‑11 | 0‑5 | 5‑6 | 2 | 5 | 0 / 0 | 11 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 31 | 3‑7 | 0‑3 | 1‑1 | 5 | 4 | 0 / 0 | 7 |
Bench totals—Washington’s reserves outscored Milwaukee’s 42‑25, led by Kispert and Richaun Holmes (7 pts, 6 reb).
Team Comparison
| Category | Bucks | Wizards |
|---|---|---|
| Shots from the field | 39‑82 (47.6 %) | 35‑87 (40.2 %) |
| Three‑pointers | 9‑32 (28.1 %) | 12‑39 (30.8 %) |
| Free throws | 17‑26 (65.4 %) | 19‑27 (70.4 %) |
| Rebounds | 44 | 42 |
| Assists | 24 | 25 |
| Steals | 11 | 9 |
| Blocks | 6 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 14 |
| Points in the paint | 50 | 34 |
| Fast‑break points | 17 | 10 |
Milwaukee’s edge inside—plus‑16 in paint scoring—proved decisive, compensating for a frigid 28 percent night beyond the arc.
Talking Points
- New‑look lineups: Both squads rolled out post‑deadline combinations. Kuzma thrived next to Giannis, sliding seamlessly into the secondary‑creator role normally filled by Damian Lillard (hamstring). Washington, meanwhile, handed the keys to Middleton and Marcus Smart (five points, rugged defense) and saw flashes of chemistry even with icy shooting.
- Giannis math: Antetokounmpo’s six fouls illustrate how thin the Bucks are when their star sits. Yet their 19‑minute win is an encouraging sign of depth and poise.
- Sarr’s step forward: The No. 4 pick blended pick‑and‑pop threes with agile rim work. Washington hasn’t had many bright spots this season, but Sarr’s upward trend is real.
- Bench duels: Kispert’s 16 and Holmes’ second‑chance hustle gave the Wizards a spark, but Connaughton’s timely drives and Portis’ rebounding (once he returns from suspension) could swing future tight games Milwaukee’s way.
What’s Next?
Both teams return to action on Sunday: Milwaukee hosts Miami, while Washington travels to Orlando. For Milwaukee, it’s a chance to push a winning streak to nine and integrate Lillard when healthy; for Washington, the focus remains on development and small victories such as Sarr’s progress and Middleton’s comfort in fresh surroundings.
Final Word
The box score will highlight Milwaukee’s superior shooting percentage and interior control, but the story here is resilience. With their MVP hindered by whistles and their All‑Star point guard in street clothes, the Bucks relied on role players—especially Kuzma and Lopez—to grind out a road win. Washington, still mired at the bottom of the standings, can take heart in Sarr’s growth and a scrappy performance that forced a contender to sweat. The next clash between these clubs may arrive in a different context, yet Friday’s thriller showed exactly how thin the margins are in the NBA when determination overrides star power.
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