The Milwaukee Bucks suffered their 4th loss in five matches in the NBA on Monday night. They didn’t manage to overcome the Charlotte Hornets who beat them for the second time in a row, 103-99.
The defending champions’ issues further worsens as their bench players continue underperforming. Khris Middleton led the way for the Bucks with a double-double with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. Giannis has also been highly efficient from the field, netting 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Giannis with the spin move 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/IFMV5bIzjv
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 11, 2022
Nigerian, Jordan Nwora, enjoyed a decent performance as he sank three 3-pointers and 7 shots in total, equaling to 18 points. Bobby Portis had a slow night finishing off with just 5 points for 34 minutes playing time.
The Charlotte Hornets made the best out of the current circumstances as they got their third win in a row. Terry Rozier Jr. was once again the main reason for their success. The 27-year-old guard finished off with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
LaMelo CLUTCH floater to put the Hornets on top 🙌 pic.twitter.com/O0Y3EZmbuS
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 11, 2022
LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward were also on a high level against the Bucks with 23 points and 14 points respectively. Miles Bridges added a double-double for Charlotte’s victory – 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The inconsistency within the Bucks’ roster comes not only from the inability of their bench players to help Giannis and Khris. It’s also as a result from the large number of turnovers these two are conceding per game. For instance, Middleton finished off with 7 turnovers, while Antetokounmpo lost the ball 6 times.
PJ Washington with the steal and slam ‼️ pic.twitter.com/Xnh6zYNQvz
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 11, 2022
The Bucks’ mistakes have been widely punished by the Hornets on Monday. P.J. Washington and Cody Martin might have finished with less than 10 points for Charlotte, but their impact on defense has been significant. Washington ended up with 4 steals and 1 block, while Martin took the possession away from the Bucks 3 times.
Standings and Upcoming Fixtures
The Milwaukee Bucks remain in the top 4 in the Eastern Conference, but they are now a lot closer to the Charlotte than they are to the Chicago Bulls who occupy the top spot. With a 26-17 record, the reigning champions will return home to face the Golden State Warriors on Thursday and the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.
The Charlotte Hornets enjoy a 3-game winning streak improving their record to 22-19. The team from North Carolina will look to keep their momentum against some of their direct rivals in the East. They travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday and then, return home for a game against the Orlando Magic on Friday.
Both the Bucks and the Hornets have high ambitions for this season. Milwaukee will do its best to defend their 2021 NBA Championship, while Charlotte will look to reach the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2016 when they were eliminated by the Miami Heat in a 7-games drama.
