NBA: Bucks bounce back with a big home win over the Hornets

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - The defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks got back on track at home with a dominating show of force against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.

Jrue Holiday hit a season-high five three-pointers for the Bucks on Monday night.
Jrue Holiday hit a season-high five three-pointers for the Bucks on Monday night.  © IMAGO/Agencia EFE

The Bucks beat down the Hornets 130-106, avoiding a three-game losing streak as the Hornets continue to struggle having now lost 11 of their last 13 games.

Milwaukee has been recently going through their own troubles, coming into this matchup as the losers of four of their last five home games.

But turn it around they did, despite Charlotte’s constant attempts to sting the Bucks with great offensive play during the first quarter. The Hornets’ buzz wore off in just 12 minutes of game time.

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Milwaukee charged through Charlotte’s fast-paced gameplan as they took a first-quarter tie game and turned it into a second-quarter onslaught that had the Bucks four points shy of 80 at halftime.

They kept it up, hitting the 100-point mark with under five minutes to play in the third quarter.

It became pretty clear that the Bucks’ stars were going to end their night early as they easily took a 32-point advantage into the fourth quarter.

The player spotlight

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 26 points on Monday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 26 points on Monday night.  © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

Once more, the Bucks’ best player in decades, Giannis Antetokounmpo (26), was at the helm to lead the defending champs back into the win column.

As the NBA’s current leading scorer with 29.4 points per game, he’s one of the league’s most dominant players, working hard in this one to end up as the game’s leading scorer in just 28 minutes of play.

Giannis cruised his way up and down the court to total up his 33rd double-double of the season.

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He took most of the fourth quarter off, finishing the night with game-highs in points (26) and rebounds (16), to go along with six assists and four blocks.

The big picture

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer.  © imago/PanoramiC

So far this season, the Bucks haven’t always looked like a team that will make their second-straight NBA Finals appearance this June.

They’ve been sitting among the Eastern Conference’s playoff teams and could even make a decent push through the postseason if the playoffs started today.

With that said, Giannis’ top-level play has kept the Bucks contending among the better teams in the league.

The two-time league and last year’s Finals MVP is usually among the league’s leading scorers if his name isn’t at the top of the list.

And as long as Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday can stay consistent and healthy, the Bucks’ big three can lead Milwaukee back to the promised land come playoff time.

On Wednesday, the Bucks will stay at home to host the Heat while the Hornets will head up to Cleveland to face the Cavs.

Cover photo: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

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