Doc Rivers denies that Giannis Antetokounmpo has asked to be traded
Watch Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers answer questions about Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and the lineup for the Bucks game against the Detroit Pistons at Fiserv Forum. Courtesy of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t draw it up this way, but they will take any victory they can.
Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo went out with a calf strain three minutes into the matchup with the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.
The Bucks have struggled this season without their superstar, but this time they rallied for a rousing 113-109 victory on Dec. 3 at Fiserv Forum.
Heading into the game, the Bucks had lost eight of their last nine. The Bucks trailed by 18 points in the first quarter not long after Antetokounmpo crumpled to the court with his injury. They slowly chipped away before pulling ahead in the fourth quarter.
BOX SCORE: Bucks 113, Pistons 109
“A game like this we kind of seen everything,” Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. said. “There was adversity from the beginning. We had to persevere, be resilient.
“It made us come together. Especially when ‘Gianni’ went down, we had to will it in and figure out a way. I’m happy we were able to finish it.”
Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins form formidable backcourt
The backcourt of Porter and Rollins, finally getting to play together with Porter recently returning from injury, combined for 48 points and 16 assists for Milwaukee.
“We both like to play fast and we both like to guard,” Porter said. “Me and Ryan can deflect and get some steals and get to early offense for the team.
“And he’s a great shooter, he’s a great scorer. And I love to pass. He’s always been a two-guard, he’s always been a great scorer … I think me coming back kind of gave him the ability to be him more. That allows us to be a better team altogether.”
The duo also slowed down Pistons star Cade Cunningham, who finished with 17 points on 5-for-15 shooting. Rollins forced Cunningham into a missed 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining and the Bucks clinging to a 111-108 lead.
“If you go by the preseason game, then our first game, it was like (Cunningham) was at a beach,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “He just went everywhere because we were trying to put size on him.
“And then today, I said let’s put a point guard on him. Let’s just pressure him up the floor. And if he gets in the paint, let’s go help. I thought that was very effective all game. The zone and Ryan’s pressure and Scoot’s (Porter) pressure.”
AJ Green hits big back-to-back triples
The Bucks finally grabbed the advantage at 97-95 with 6:55 remaining when AJ Green buried back-to-back 3-pointers.
Green finished with 19 points.
“I’m just trying to find space and let it fly,” Green said. “And I think it was Kuz (Kyle Kuzma) Ryan and Scoot found me a few times. Props to them for seeing the floor and trusting in me as well. It takes two.”
The crowd of 16,256 fans let out a cathartic roar after those two triples. It was a contrast to the worried tension in the building when Antetokounmpo went out with his injury.
“I think you got to do it together,” Green said. “It’s not going to be one guy. Things get thrown at you. It is what it is. You can’t control it.
“But we can control how we respond and how we move forward. And so just in huddles and timeouts, continuing to come together. We encourage each other and talk about what we see. Just try to lift each other up.”
Jericho Sims has double-double off bench
The Bucks had to rally again in the final minutes after the Pistons took a 108-103 lead with 2:09 left.
Green hit a 3-pointer, and then big man Jericho Sims added a 3-point play to give the Bucks the lead for good at 109-108.
“We need a roller,” Rivers said. “When Giannis is not on the floor, it takes our rollers off the floor.
“With Jericho’s ability to roll. His ability to rebound and his ability to defend. We just felt strongly about throwing him out on the floor and keeping him out on the floor.”
Sims had career highs with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
“Tonight is what we expect out of J-Rock,” Porter said. “He’s a brute force. And we just want him to be as physical as we know he can be.
“He showed us that tonight and helped us a lot on the rebounding.”
Bucks close out win on a wild day that included team meeting
After an ugly loss to the Washington Wizards on Dec. 1, the Bucks held a team meeting in the morning before the Pistons game.
“Sometimes talking things out can go a long way,” said Bucks forward Bobby Portis, who scored all 13 of his points in the second half.
The Bucks also had to deal with the swirling rumours and reports about Antetokounmpo’s future with the team.
“I think the rumours, that’s for like the media and the fans, that’s more of their hemisphere,” Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma said. “I think for us, you see it but all of us have been in trade rumours at some point in our careers for multiple years.
“It’s really just white noise, honestly. It’s really for like the entertainment aspect for the fans and the media to have something to distract from the world.”
Giannis playing?
Yes. Head coach Doc Rivers said before the game that Antetokounmpo will play. Antetokounmpo remains on the injury report for the management of this strained left adductor suffered on Nov. 17, but he is probable to play vs. the Pistons. Antetokounmpo has played each of the last three games.
Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)Kevin Porter Jr., questionable (lower back muscle spasm)Bobby Portis Jr., questionable (left eye corneal abrasion)Gary Harris, questionable (right Achilles soreness)Giannis Antetokounmpo, probable (left adductor strain injury management)Bucks probable startersGuards: Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, AJ GreenForward: Giannis AntetokounmpoCenter: Myles TurnerBucks vs. Pistons odds
Detroit is a 4.5-point favorite over Milwaukee, with over/under set at 230.5 points per BetMGM.
What time is the Bucks game?
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the call.