Led by a shooting clinic from beyond the arc in the 1st half, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns with a final score of 140-129.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In the opening half, the Bucks equaled the NBA record with 18 successful three-pointers. Bobby Portis Jr., coming off the bench, amassed 25 points by halftime, shooting a flawless 5-5 from beyond the arc.
Consequently, the Suns found themselves confronted with a daunting 25-point deficit at one stage.
While they did attempt to mount a comeback, cutting within six points in the 3rd quarter, Damian Lillard took over with a 9-0 run to end the 3rd.
This includes a buzzer-beater three pointer from the logo.
LOGO DAMIAN LILLARD.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 17, 2024
Lillard concluded the game with 31 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter.
Despite the Suns finishing with a higher shooting percentage than the Bucks (57.8% versus 54.3%), it was Milwaukee’s dominance from long range that allowed them to maintain a double-digit lead for much of the morning.
The Bucks converted 24 of 41 attempts from beyond the arc, underscoring the Suns’ ongoing defensive struggles. Not to mention, the Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo who was out with an injury.
Also hurting the Suns down the stretch was the fact that Kevin Durant made no shot attempts in the 4th quarter. In 41 minutes, Durant finished with a slim 11 points on 4-10 shooting.
With 17 games remaining in the regular season, the Suns are now tied for 7th place with the Dallas Mavericks.
Up next for Phoenix is a matchup against the 76ers on Wednesday, with tipoff scheduled for 7 pm.
