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The short-handed Milwaukee Bucks end road trip with a loss to the Phoenix Suns

The Bucks went 1-4 in their five-game road trip.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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On Tuesday night, the undermanned Milwaukee Bucks concluded their five-game road trip with a 106-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Milwaukee finished the road trip 1-4, which is also the team’s record under new coach Doc Rivers. It was Milwaukee’s second-straight defeat as it fell to 33-18 in the season.

Milwaukee’s manpower woes

The Bucks played without starters Brook Lopez (personal) and Damian Lillard (ankle), and their lineup was further decimated when Khris Middleton left in the first quarter due to an ankle injury.

Khris twisted his ankle when he landed on Kevin Durant’s foot after attempting a jumper. Durant was eventually assessed with a Flagrant one after officials judged that he didn’t give Middleton enough space to land.

Middleton had played eight minutes and scored six points when he left the contest. Rivers said the X-rays were negative.

Suns pulled away in the 2nd half

Despite the workforce woes, the Bucks still ended the first quarter with a 23-22 lead and maintained a one-point cushion at the half, 49-48. Durant opened the third quarter with a jumper, and after Giannis Antetokounmpo made two free throws, Devin Booker hit a three-pointer that gave the Suns the lead for good, 53-51.

The Suns ended the third with a 79-73 and were never threatened in the payoff period, where they led by as many as 15 points on the way to securing their second straight to improve to 30-21.

Antetokounmpo shot 13-for-24 from the field and led Milwaukee with 34 points. He also had ten rebounds and six assists. Malik Beasley added 22 points but shot just 6-for-14 from three-point range and 7-for-17 overall.

Booker paced the Suns with 32 points, while Durant added 28.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.