Bucks Stumble in Shocking Loss to Short-Handed Wizards: A Breakdown of What Went Wrong
The Milwaukee Bucks hit a new low Monday night, falling 117-111 to a Washington Wizards team that came in with just two wins on the season-and missing three key rotation players. That’s not just a trap game. That’s a full-blown collapse.
Washington was without Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, and Corey Kispert, yet still managed to outplay a Bucks squad that looked disinterested at best and disorganized at worst. Milwaukee shot the lights out-nearly 55% from the field and from deep-but still lost.
Why? Turnovers, poor rebounding, lack of defensive effort, and some questionable coaching decisions all played a part.
Let’s break it down.
Player Grades and Analysis
Giannis Antetokounmpo - 26 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST, 10/17 FG, -2 (31 MIN)
This wasn’t just an off night for Giannis-it was one of those rare games where the effort didn’t match the stat line.
He finished with 26 points on efficient shooting, but the defensive energy was noticeably absent. Time after time, Wizards players drove right past him with little resistance.
On offense, Giannis fell into that old trap of trying to bulldoze through defenders rather than working within the flow of the offense.
And then there was the late-game sequence: a fadeaway over Khris Middleton with a minute left, followed by a failure to get back on defense. That led directly to a Wizards three.
That’s the kind of moment that swings games-and seasons. Giannis has built his reputation on accountability, but Monday night didn’t reflect that standard.
Grade: D+
Myles Turner - 9 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 3/10 FG, +10 (26 MIN)
Turner’s stat line doesn’t jump off the page, but he was one of the few Bucks with a positive plus-minus, and it felt like the team functioned better when he was on the floor.
Still, there’s more he can bring defensively and on the glass. The Bucks aren’t maximizing his skill set, but he also needs to assert himself more in those areas.
Also worth noting: he only played 26 minutes while Bobby Portis struggled mightily on defense. That’s tough to justify.
Grade: C+
Ryan Rollins - 14 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 3 TO, 5/12 FG, -7 (29 MIN)
Rollins was steady, if unspectacular.
His usage has taken a dip since Kevin Porter Jr. returned, but he found ways to contribute. He moved the ball well and didn’t force much, though the offense lacked rhythm at times when he was running the show.
Grade: B-
Kevin Porter Jr. - 30 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB, 3 STL, 12/15 FG, +13 (31 MIN)
KPJ was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dreary performance.
He was electric offensively, knocking down 5-of-6 from deep and creating offense when no one else could. He even flashed some defensive activity with three steals.
His exit late in the game with back spasms was a gut punch for a team that desperately needed his shot-making.
Grade: A
Kyle Kuzma - 3 PTS, 6 AST, 2 REB, 1/4 FG, -9 (20 MIN)
Against his former team, Kuzma was quiet-and not in a good way.
He didn’t force shots, which is a positive, but his impact was minimal across the board. The Bucks needed more from him, especially with the Wizards undermanned.
Grade: C-
AJ Green - 13 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 4/6 FG, +8 (31 MIN)
Green continues to show he belongs in the rotation.
He knocked down open looks, moved the ball well, and held his own defensively. Nothing flashy, but exactly what you want from a role player.
Grade: B+
Gary Trent Jr. - 14 PTS, 4/7 FG, 3/5 3P, -12 (30 MIN)
Trent gave the Bucks some timely buckets, particularly from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, he was solid enough, though the team as a whole struggled on that end. A reliable performance.
Grade: B+
Bobby Portis - 12 PTS, 4 REB, 5/10 FG, -7 (17 MIN)
Portis’ offensive numbers were fine, but his defense was a glaring issue.
Multiple times, he was caught flat-footed or out of position-none more egregious than a third-quarter sequence where Justin Champagnie simply ran by him for an easy layup. And then there was Cam Whitmore shaking him on a baseline drive that turned into a highlight dunk.
The Bucks can’t afford this level of defensive liability, especially when Turner is sitting on the bench.
Grade: D+
Jericho Sims - 5 PTS, 7 REB, 2/3 FG, -9 (18 MIN)
Sims did what he could in limited minutes.
He brought energy on the glass and stayed within his role. He’s not going to stretch the floor or initiate offense, but his rebounding gave the Bucks a needed boost.
Grade: C+
Coach Doc Rivers
This was not one of Doc’s finer nights.
Turner was a +10 but played just 26 minutes. Meanwhile, Portis-who was getting cooked on defense-continued to see meaningful time.
Sims played into the fourth quarter before Turner re-entered with under five minutes left. Strategy aside, the lack of accountability stood out.
Giannis didn’t bring it on the defensive end, and there was no visible response from the coaching staff.
Rivers also stuck with defensive matchups that clearly weren’t working, like willingly switching Turner onto Khris Middleton early, which created mismatches the Wizards exploited. The Bucks looked like a team that assumed they’d win just by showing up. That’s on the players, sure-but also on the coach.
Grade: D
Limited/Inactive Players
- Cole Anthony saw limited minutes.
- DNP-CD: Amir Coffey, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr.
- Inactive: Taurean Prince, Alex Antetokounmpo, Pete Nance, Gary Harris, Mark Sears
Bonus Bucks Bits
- Kevin Porter Jr. said postgame that he expects to be ready for Wednesday’s matchup despite the back spasms that forced him out late.
- The Bucks attempted 18 fewer shots than Washington. That’s a massive gap, fueled by 16 turnovers and giving up 15 offensive rebounds.
Marvin Bagley and Justin Champagnie each pulled down six offensive boards. That’s effort-and the Bucks didn’t match it.
- Milwaukee also missed eight free throws. Combine that with the rebounding and turnover issues, and it’s easy to see how a team can lose despite shooting nearly 55% from the field and from deep.
- Doc Rivers postgame: “We played like we thought we were going to win the game.” That about sums it up.
- On Giannis: “The five turnovers is probably what he would like back, but other than that, he played pretty well.” That’s a generous interpretation, to say the least.
What’s Next
The Bucks return home Wednesday night to face the Detroit Pistons.
Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. Central on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
After Monday’s loss, expect a sharper, more focused effort-or at least, there better be.