Milwaukee - The Milwaukee Bucks posted another victory on Thursday night with a thumping 118-99 of the Golden State Warriors, continuing their trend of their best performances in matches against other potential title contenders this season.
The Bucks smashed the Warriors from the start, jumping for a 39-point halftime lead, Golden State's biggest halftime loss since the franchise moved from Philadelphia.
Over the past week, the Bucks have comfortably won against the Warriors and Brooklyn Nets—whom they also defeated at Opening Night in Milwaukee—a pair of teams they can see on their way to attempting a repeat as NBA champions. Were.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said, "I don't know why we play well in the big games, but at the end of the day we have to keep building good habits." 11 assists in 30 minutes. "With great enthusiasm to play big games or even sports that nobody watches, nobody cares, we have to keep building good habits, so that we can be good in May and June."
Milwaukee had coach Mike Buddenholzer after clearing health and safety protocols, but playing without guard Jew Holiday, its best perimeter defender, missed his fourth straight game with an ankle. Nevertheless, the Bucks were able to engage Warriors star Stephen Curry with a defensive effort.
Curry was shooting 4-of-11 in the game (2 for 3 for 6) for 12 points. According to ESPN Stats and Information Research, he has shot less than 50% off the field in eight consecutive matches, the longest streak of his career. Golden State finished 3-for-14 off the field with three turnovers and seven points when the Bucks sent a double team to Curry.
"Milwaukee is a good team. Obviously they have the championship DNA now," Curry said.
The Warriors have dropped four of their last five games overall and Curry has been caught in one of the worst shootings of his career, but he wasn't panicking about his recent skid.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the match, 'To be honest, I am not too worried about it. "I know we've just kicked our butts. We're just in a bad patch in our season. With every team, a lot happens every year with exceptions. We're in a little bit of a rut. We played a team that was ready and played well... and so we're a little different, and we just have to get back on track."
Golden State will play the Bulls in the second half of back-to-back Friday night in Chicago. Klay Thompson, who scored 11 points on 3 of 3 in 21 minutes, is not expected to play as the Warriors eased him back into action after missing more than two years due to injuries.
Meanwhile, the Bucks continue to roll against some of the toughest competition in the league thanks to Antetokounmpo's impressive performance.
On Thursday, Antetokounmpo got a perfect 9-for-9 with four dunks inside the restricted zone. He scored on four different primary defenders (including a 4-for-4 against André Iguodala) and hit all seven of his wide-open shots. According to research by ESPN Stats & Information, even when the Warriors forced him to pass, he still regularly read correct - the Bucks shot 11 out of 16 (30 points) from Antetokounmpo's pass.
"My mindset is, I have something I'm going to take it. I'm not going to second guess it," Antetokounmpo said. "If someone is open I'm going to try to give that ball to him. If I can't, I'll see what's next. I always try to be in the moment. But an assertive mindset, an aggressive one." Mindset, that's how I start the game. That's what I think in every right."