The Milwaukee Bucks have spent a lot of time this season right on the edge of a win, only to watch the fourth quarter slip away.
That was the story again against the Boston Celtics. Milwaukee dug out of a 22-point hole in the second quarter, pushed back hard in the second half and even grabbed the lead with 5:08 left in the fourth.
But the finish went sideways. The Bucks cooled off from the floor and at the free throw line, and Boston took advantage late.
It’s the kind of loss that has piled up for Milwaukee, because the record alone doesn’t tell the whole story. The Bucks haven’t been getting blown out every night. More often, they’ve been hanging around into the final period and just haven’t been able to close.
That has happened against Boston, Washington and Chicago, where Milwaukee held fourth-quarter leads. It also showed up against Minnesota and Philadelphia, with the Bucks within four points entering the fourth quarter or already in it.
The problem in those late stretches has been a familiar mix: missed shots, missed free throws, turnovers and fouls that hand the other team extra chances.
Against the Celtics, Milwaukee finished the fourth quarter 7-for-22 from the field, 3-for-12 from 3-point range and 6-for-10 at the line, while also committing four personal fouls and nine turnovers. The game before against the Timberwolves, the Bucks shot 10-for-24 from the field and 2-for-9 from deep, while piling up 10 fouls and four personal fouls.
The struggles kept showing up. Against the 76ers, Milwaukee went 12-for-29 from the field and 2-for-8 from 3-point range, with six personal fouls.
Against the Bulls, the Bucks shot 8-for-23 from the field and 2-for-10 from deep, while committing 10 fouls and nine turnovers, despite Tyler Herro scoring 34 points. In the season opener, the fourth quarter again turned into a problem, with Milwaukee going 8-for-24 from the field, 4-for-13 from 3-point range and committing seven fouls.
Milwaukee’s identity leans heavily on 3-point shooting, but when the shots stop falling, the offense can get stuck in a hurry. That kind of boom-or-bust approach can leave a team in a hole when the game tightens up late.
Turnovers have been just as costly. The Bucks are tied at No. 19 in the league with 16.5 turnovers per game, rank No. 18 with 3.8 turnovers per game in the fourth quarter and are tied for No. 18 with 19.1 opponent points off turnovers.
In a quarter where every possession matters, those mistakes are hard to survive. Milwaukee may be 1-7, but the bigger issue is that the Bucks have been close enough to win more than once. To turn those close games into victories, they have to put together all four quarters - take care of the ball, make shots and stay disciplined on defense.
In Other News...
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Under the new setup, the three worst teams will no longer have quite the same odds advantage they once did, while teams just outside that bottom tier will gain more of a boost. The format will remain in place through the 2029 draft, and it marks another example of how the NBA is trying to align its lottery rules with the broader approach used across major U.S. sports leagues. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Herro Has A Bucks Problem He Cant Afford Right Now
Tyler Herro has spent much of this season carrying the Bucks offense, but the late-game minutes have become a problem area the team cant ignore. In close games, he has managed just seven points on 2-of-8 shooting in the final five minutes, and his efficiency in those moments has landed among the lowest in the NBA. The issue has not been limited to missed shots, either, with turnovers and shaky free throw shooting adding to the concern.
For a Milwaukee team still working through the growing pains that come with a young roster, Herros clutch struggles have taken on extra weight because of what comes next. He is approaching free agency, and the Bucks need to know whether their primary offensive option can be trusted when the game tightens. Right now, that question is hanging over both his season and the teams bigger plans. [Read more 🡒]