NBA: Bucks pummel the Pistons for big win
Detroit, Michigan - The Milwaukee Bucks got back to winning again in a big way by dominating the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
The Bucks beat down the Pistons 117-89, snapping their three-game losing streak, also improving their regular season record to 4-4.
Despite their recent struggles, Milwaukee came into this game with the assumption they would easily beat a team tied for the NBA’s worst record.
They met expectations and then some with an impressive 28-point blowout on the road.
There wasn’t a quarter in this game where the Bucks were outscored by the Pistons, a testament to Milwaukee’s control of the momentum in this contest.
The first half was where the Bucks set the tone, holding Detroit to their lowest-scoring quarters, going into halftime with a commanding 57-39 lead.
With a one-win team like the Pistons, they had a hard time keeping up with the defending champs as time eventually ran out and Detroit was finally out of their misery.
The player spotlight
As basketball fans might guess, last year’s Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (26) was the star of the show.
Win or lose, he’s been Milwaukee’s leading scorer through the course of the season, and Tuesday night was no different.
And while he missed his sixth double-double of the season, he was still the dominant all-around player his team needed as they hope to go on a much-needed upswing after their early skid.
Giannis finished the night 9-for-16 shooting, including 3 of 7 from three-point land, 28 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.
The big picture
Tuesday’s win was big for the Bucks. Even though it was "just" against the Pistons, it was still much-needed for a team that was staring at a potential four-game skid very early in the season.
This blowout can be a catalyst for them to get back on track – and not a moment too soon, because the next handful of games for them feature Eastern Conference teams that would love to dethrone the defending champs.
On Friday, the Bucks are back at home to play the Knicks while on Thursday, the Pistons welcome the Sixers into town.
Cover photo: imago/Icon SMI