NBA --- Despite hiccup, Bucks sit pretty on top
By Japheth Bandi
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 08 Jan 2020
CHICAGO --- When the San Antonio Spurs bowed to the Bucks, 127-118, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee last Saturday (Sunday morning RP time), DeMar DeRozan told reporters "we know what we did wrong and just try to be better."
Those words proved to be prophetic after the Spurs looked better during the rematch yesterday and avenged their recent loss with a 126-104 victory, this time at their home floor, the AT&T Center in downtown San Antonio.
DeRozan led the hosts with 25 points while fellow All-Star Lamarcus Aldridge added 17. Rudy Gay contributed 17 off the bench.
DeRozan didn't exactly point out which aspect San Antonio needed to improved on but their defense showed an edge that was missing in Milwaukee as the Spurs held the Bucks to just 40 percent shooting from the field (38-of-95) and 33.3 percent from 3-point range. (15-of-45).
"It's a big confidence builder, Letting us know we could compete with the best teams in the league," an excited said during his post-game chat with credentialed reporters.
The Spurs victory was aided by 19 made triples and 45 converted field goals overall out of 88 attempts, a high 51.1 percent. San Antonio improved to 15-20 for eighth place in the Western Conference, just ahead of ninth placer the Memphis Grizzlies, who have shrugged off a slow start to move to 15-22.
The Bucks on the other hand did not fall of the top perch following the loss. They remain robust at 32-6.
"I'm going to continue to trust my technique," said reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo who finished with 24 points but was held to 0-for-5 from 3-point distance.
Averaging 119,2 points per game, the Bucks are the second highest scoring team in the NBA. But they are No.1 in defensive rating (102.5) and first in pace (104.9). With their five-game winning streak snapped, they head to San Francisco tomorrow to face the Golden State Warriors and hope to get back on track.
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