Improved defense helps Bucks go on a hot streak
The hottest team in the NBA is the Milwaukee Bucks.
Few observers could see it coming, especially after Jabari Parker went down with a season-ending knee injury in early February.
But that’s why the NBA is such an intriguing league. How did it happen?
Khris Middleton came back from hamstring surgery and provided a defensive emphasis the Bucks needed, not to mention a closer on the offensive end.
Giannis Antetokounmpo continued to shine brightly with blocks, rebounds, dunks, assists and steals, doing it all in spectacular fashion.
Rookie Malcolm Brogdon played with the calm demeanor of a veteran, and center Greg Monroe kept producing off the bench.
And a defense that had been leaking points turned stingy again.
Now with just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Bucks (37-35) have vaulted into a tie for fifth place in the Eastern Conference with Atlanta. They have moved one game ahead of seventh-place Indiana and two games ahead of eighth-place Miami.
GARDNER: This week in the NBA
SATURDAY: Monroe comes up big in final minute vs. Hawks
BOX SCORE: Bucks 100, Hawks 97
Milwaukee will try for a rare series sweep of the division rival Chicago Bulls when they meet in a Sunday matinee (2:30 p.m. start) at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The last time the Bucks swept the Bulls was the 2000-’01 season, when Milwaukee went on to reach the Eastern Conference finals.
The Bucks have limited their last three opponents to fewer than 100 points, holding Portland to 90, Sacramento to 98 and Atlanta to 97.
It has been a winning formula for Milwaukee, which has won its last 17 games when holding an opponent to fewer than 100 points.
The Bucks now rank ninth in the league in points allowed per game (104.1) and are in the middle of the pack at 17th in opponents field-goal percentage (49.4%).
Winning the close ones has marked a major turnaround for the Bucks, who lacked the confidence to finish games earlier in the season.
On Friday it was Brogdon and Monroe combining for two huge baskets in the final minute, instead of Antetokounmpo taking on the entire defense of the Hawks. He scored 34 points but was content to let Brogdon take over at the finish.
“Giannis is selfless,” Brogdon said. “That’s why this team has been able to come together and make the run we’re making.
“We follow his lead every night. It just speaks to his character and speaks to his leadership.”
Antetokounmpo made a ridiculous save of a ball headed out of bounds to give the Bucks an extra possession in the final minute, leading to a basket. Khris Middleton stood in to take a charging foul on Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder.
Those were critical plays in a game decided by three points and allowed the Bucks to win for the 11th time in their last 13 games.
“You go back to earlier in the season and I don’t know how many games we lost where the ball bounced the wrong way or we couldn’t get a stop or we couldn’t get a shot to go for us,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said.
“To take those experiences and be able to use them in the months of March and April and hopefully into May, we haven’t panicked. We can get a stop and we can get a good shot.
“Make or miss, we’re relying on our defense and our defense is playing extremely well right now.”
The Bucks defense allowed the team to survive a 1-for-13 shooting night by Middleton, a rare six-point game for the small forward.
“Khris is not going to be able to give us 20 every night,” Brogdon said. “He’s going to have off nights.
“He’s going to be back next game. He’ll be back to his regular self.”
Injury updates: A league source said Saturday that Bucks center John Henson should be out approximately one week with a sprained left thumb.
Henson was examined Friday and no fracture was revealed. He has missed two games since spraining the thumb in the Bucks’ 93-90 victory at Portland on Tuesday. Spencer Hawes filled in as the third center in the last two games, playing 18 minutes in Sacramento and 12 minutes against Atlanta.
Veteran forward Michael Beasley made progress while the Bucks were on their six-game road trip and could be on the practice court next week, Kidd said.
The plan is for Beasley to return before the regular season ends. The power forward suffered a hyperextended left knee Feb. 27 at Cleveland and has been sidelined since then.