NBA: After uncompetitive loss, Bucks seek to bounce back vs. Spurs

The Milwaukee Bucks aim to turn their frustrations from a blowout home loss into motivation as they visit the struggling San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.

Milwaukee heads to the Alamo City after being routed 139-106 by a short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 25 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Bobby Portis, filling in for an ill Myles Turner, contributed 14 points. Kevin Porter Jr. added 13 points.

The Bucks were booed by their home fans at halftime, trailing by 31 points. Antetokounmpo responded to the crowd after being fouled early in the third quarter, but the exchange did little to change Milwaukee’s fortunes, as the team suffered its second straight loss and third in four games.

“Whenever I get booed, I boo back,” said Antetokounmpo, who noted that Tuesday was the first time he remembered being booed at home. “It doesn’t matter—I play basketball for my teammates. I play basketball for myself and my family.

“I think we didn’t play hard. We didn’t do the right things. We didn’t play as a team. There’s not much you can take away from this game. You just have to forget about it, focus on the things you did well, improve on them, and move on to the next game.”

The Spurs are also looking to end a two-game losing streak after a 119-98 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. San Antonio had previously beaten the league-leading Thunder in all three matchups this season but faltered in the third quarter, turning a three-point halftime lead into a 19-point deficit.

It was the first time the Spurs were held under 100 points this season, shooting just 40% from the field. Since beating Oklahoma City on Christmas Day, San Antonio has lost six of its last 10 games.

“The plan and execution weren’t good, and in the third quarter, that’s when Oklahoma City got separation,” said Spurs coach Mitch Johnson. “We weren’t very sharp from the start. These games are learning experiences, and it’s our job to make sure we maximize those lessons moving forward.”

Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 20 points in Tuesday’s loss, while Victor Wembanyama added 17. De’Aaron Fox contributed 14 points, Julian Champagnie 13, and Dylan Harper 12.

Thursday’s matchup is the first of two meetings between the Bucks and Spurs, with the teams set to meet again in Milwaukee on March 28.

—Field Level Media/Reuters