"Bucks vs. Warriors: Losing Steam"

 

 Feb 11, 2025, 8:04am CST  

In a game marred by turnovers and inconsistent scoring, the Milwaukee Bucks fell at home to the Golden State Warriors, 125-111.

Catch our full game summary here, and listen to a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes.

What Did We Learn?

The Bucks sorely missed Giannis in this matchup. As noted in the Rapid Recap, facing off against a scoring juggernaut like Stephen Curry, Milwaukee needed a stronger offensive effort from more players. While Damian Lillard delivered a stellar 38 points (12/20 shooting), the lack of scoring from others ultimately doomed the Bucks. Taurean Prince stepped up with 19 points, but it wasn’t enough. Milwaukee will be hoping for better results before the All-Star break.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Turnovers told the story.
The Bucks struggled with turnovers all game. The Warriors’ defense not only limited Milwaukee’s 3-point opportunities but also forced 20 turnovers, resulting in 31 points off those mistakes. Despite Lillard's scoring efforts, the Warriors’ defense stifled him as well, forcing him into 10 turnovers. Late in the game, when the Bucks were looking to make a push, Golden State's relentless defense kept the game out of reach.

2. Pat Connaughton’s brief appearance disrupted the flow.
Milwaukee’s momentum seemed to vanish when Pat Connaughton entered the game in the third quarter. The Warriors quickly targeted him, and Connaughton’s sluggish play allowed them to capitalize. In just four minutes, he had a -7 RPM, and his time on the court seemed to shift the momentum heavily in Golden State's favor.

3. Quinten Post stepped up for the Warriors.
Few would have predicted Quinten Post to be the player delivering the knockout blow to the Bucks, but that’s exactly what happened. In 15 minutes off the bench, he scored 13 points, including several key 3-pointers that helped seal the victory for Golden State. His clutch shots, especially one in the fourth quarter, even had Doc Rivers visibly frustrated.

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Kevin Porter Jr. made his debut for the Bucks, playing 10 minutes and scoring 2 points on a perfect 1/1 shooting, along with a rebound and two assists. Doc Rivers mentioned Porter will get more minutes in Minnesota.
• Stephen Curry matched his season-high with 38 points, including six 3-pointers, marking his 12th 30-point game of the season. Curry usually struggles in Milwaukee, but not this time.
• Jimmy Butler caused problems for the Bucks again, putting up 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
• Taurean Prince hit a season-high five 3-pointers en route to 19 points, marking the first time he’s made 5+ threes since December 25, 2023.
• Kyle Kuzma posted his first 20-point game with the Bucks, scoring 21 points on 66.7% shooting (6/9), marking his 12th 20-point game of the season.

Up Next

The Bucks will have a quick turnaround, traveling to Minneapolis to face the Timberwolves tomorrow night at 7 p.m. CST. You can catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin or stream it on the team’s Playback and YouTube channels.