The Milwaukee Bucks bounced back from a tough loss with a gritty win over the Phoenix Suns, edging them out 108-105 in a thrilling contest. Ryan Rollins was the star for the Bucks, posting a standout performance with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. On the Suns' side, Jalen Green led the charge with 24 points.
Game Recap
The Bucks had a rocky start, reminiscent of their previous game against the Jazz, allowing a 9-0 run right out of the gate. Turnovers plagued Milwaukee early, with three giveaways in the first three minutes.
The first quarter was a struggle for both teams offensively, with only three points scored between 7:27 and 3:50. However, the Suns managed to find some rhythm, closing the period with a 26-15 lead.
The second quarter saw AJ Green spark a resurgence for the Bucks. Coming off a timeout, he broke out of a slump, hitting a crucial shot that seemed to ignite his confidence.
He followed that up by setting up Pete Nance for an easy layup and sinking a three-pointer to cut the deficit to four. The Bucks' defense tightened, allowing them to capitalize on missed shots and embark on a 20-7 run over 3:30, seizing a six-point lead.
Kyle Kuzma played a pivotal role, scoring 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting, helping the Bucks take a 57-52 lead into halftime.
Ryan Rollins opened the third quarter with a three-pointer, extending the Bucks' lead to eight. The Suns, however, countered with an 11-2 run led by Oso Ighodaro and Collin Gillespie.
Milwaukee stayed resilient, with Prince and Rollins combining for a quick seven points. The game remained tight, with neither team pulling away.
Ousmane Dieng stepped up defensively against Devin Booker, showcasing his potential role on the team. The Suns managed to edge ahead 82-81 by the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter began with a Cam Thomas highlight, tying the game at 84. With Booker resting, Jalen Green led a 7-0 Suns run.
But the Bucks responded with a crucial step-back three from Gary Trent Jr. and a Rollins and-one, narrowing the gap to 93-92. A timeout by the Bucks led to a perfectly executed down-screen play for Trent, who nailed a triple to tie it at 95 with 4:30 left.
Dieng continued his impressive play, stealing the ball from Green and scoring on the break, followed by a floater to put the Bucks up by five with 2:20 remaining.
The game had its share of drama, with Booker hitting a three-point play to cut the lead to one. However, the Bucks sealed the victory with a clutch sequence: a kick-out three from Myles Turner, Dieng's defense on Booker, and another Rollins and-one, securing a 108-104 lead with just 23.8 seconds left. The Bucks held on for a well-earned win, showcasing resilience and teamwork in a high-stakes matchup.