The Milwaukee Bucks are quietly starting to string things together-and while Ousmane Dieng hasn’t logged a single minute yet, the team is undefeated since adding him to the roster. Coincidence?
Probably. But hey, in the NBA, good vibes matter.
Milwaukee held off a late Indiana Pacers rally to secure a 105-99 win, their third straight victory-the first time they’ve done that all season.
Let’s break it down.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Bucks built a 20-point lead at one point, looking like a team in full control. But Indiana made it interesting late, outscoring Milwaukee 34-22 in the fourth quarter. Credit to the Bucks for weathering the storm-this is a team still figuring itself out without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma, and Taurean Prince.
And yet, they’re finding ways to win. That’s a good sign.
Player Breakdown & Grades
Myles Turner - 27 mins, 9 pts, 10 reb, 4/10 FG, 1/5 3P, +11
Turner didn’t have his shooting touch, but his presence was still felt.
He cleaned the glass and anchored the transition defense. Four offensive boards tied for the team lead, and he was a steadying presence even when the shots weren’t falling.
Grade: B-
Ryan Rollins - 34 mins, 22 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, 4 TO, 4 fouls, 9/19 FG, 4/8 3P, +6
That’s four straight 20+ point outings for Rollins, who’s starting to look very comfortable running the show.
He’s playing with confidence, even while navigating foul trouble. The Bucks needed someone to step up with Giannis out-Rollins is answering the call.
Grade: B+
AJ Green - 37 mins, 14 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 4/12 3P, +9
Green came out hot, hitting 3-of-5 in the first half, but cooled off after halftime.
Still, he’s not hesitating, and that’s important. The Bucks need his shooting to stretch the floor, and he’s not shying away from the moment.
Grade: B-
Kevin Porter Jr. - 34 mins, 23 pts, 8 ast, 7 reb, 3 stl, 2 TO, 10/20 FG, 0/6 3P, +3
KPJ was everywhere.
He got the start alongside Rollins and the two worked well in tandem. The three-point shot still isn’t falling, but he compensated by attacking the rim relentlessly-finishing 10-of-12 on two-pointers.
He also added three steals and nearly hit a triple-double.
Grade: A-
Bobby Portis - 26 mins, 21 pts, 6 reb, 9/18 FG, 3/7 3P, -1
Portis brought his trademark energy and scoring punch off the bench.
He can be a rollercoaster at times, but when he’s got it going, he’s one of the most effective bench bigs in the league. The Bucks needed his offense in this one, and he delivered.
Grade: B
Gary Trent Jr. - 19 mins, 7 pts, 2 ast, 1 reb, 3/5 FG, 0/2 3P, -5
Still waiting for Trent to fully find his rhythm, but this was a step in the right direction.
He looked more comfortable, even if the three-ball wasn’t dropping. If he keeps trending upward, he could be a valuable piece down the stretch.
Grade: B-
Gary Harris - 14 mins, 0 pts, 2 ast, 1 reb, 0/3 FG, +2
Coming off an injury, Harris didn’t make much of an offensive impact, but his defensive instincts were still there.
He’ll need time to get his legs back under him, but his experience is valuable for this rotation.
Grade: C-
Pete Nance - 18 mins, 5 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast, 2/3 FG, 1/1 3P, -4
Nance continues to make the most of his minutes.
He’s not putting up eye-popping numbers, but he’s playing within himself and showing he belongs. If the Bucks don’t make a move at the deadline or on the buyout market, Nance is making a strong case for that final roster spot.
Grade: C+
Jericho Sims - 31 mins, 4 pts, 15 reb, 4 ast, 2 blk, 2/3 FG, +9
Let’s talk about Sims.
With Kuzma out, Doc Rivers gave him the start-and Sims responded with a monster night on the boards and a standout defensive performance. He was matched up with Pascal Siakam and helped hold him to 19 points on 7-of-19 shooting, including just 1-of-8 from three.
Add in two blocks and four assists, and you’ve got a near-perfect glue-guy game.
Grade: A
Coaching Corner: Doc Rivers
Doc made a bold move inserting Sims into the starting lineup, and it paid off. His defensive versatility gave the Bucks a different look, and his energy helped set the tone early.
Doc also nailed his lone challenge of the night-chalk one up in the win column there, too.
Grade: B+
Bench Notes & Inactives
DNP-CD: Ousmane Dieng, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr.
Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma, Taurean Prince
Inside the Locker Room
Before the game, Doc Rivers shared his thoughts on Ousmane Dieng, the Bucks’ newest addition:
“We just really like him. He’s a talented player, has size, I think he’s more of a 3/4, can really pass the ball.
I think he was last cut on the France Olympic team, at his age. Coming from a great organization, good shooter-going to be a better shooter.
So, a lot of things we liked.”
It’s clear the Bucks see long-term potential in Dieng. Whether or not he cracks the rotation this season, he’s someone they’re excited to develop.
On the Glass
Milwaukee pulled down 13 offensive rebounds-tied for their third-highest total this season. Turner and Sims led the way with four each, and KPJ added two more. Doc emphasized the team’s renewed focus on crashing the boards:
“I think the re-concerted interest in getting offensive rebounds was there. We missed five of them where we got our hands on them.
We’re doing this thing where we push the defensive player in, so he can’t leak out and that’s been effective for us as well. Jericho is a rebounding machine, he really is.”
Backcourt Chemistry
The Rollins-Porter Jr. pairing is starting to click. After some early-season growing pains, the two guards combined for 45 points, and KPJ had high praise for his backcourt mate:
“Rylo has taken the biggest leap, and we need him to. Giannis is out, TP [Taurean Prince] is out. We’re battling injuries, and he’s been there holding the fort.”
Also worth noting: KPJ set a new season high in field goal attempts with 20. His previous high was 18.
Vibes Watch: High
The Bucks are riding a three-game win streak-something they hadn’t done all year until now. And in a feel-good moment, Bango surprised franchise legend Marques Johnson with an early 70th birthday celebration, complete with a confetti cannon and cake. Here’s to many more birthday dunks in the years to come.
Up Next
Milwaukee hits the road for a two-game set against the Orlando Magic. Game one tips off Monday at 6:30 p.m. Central and will stream exclusively on Peacock.
With momentum building and role players stepping up, the Bucks are starting to look like a team figuring out its identity-even without their superstar.