The Milwaukee Bucks’ slow start to the NBA season has hit an ugly low point in a 122-99 blowout road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Ja Morant dominated with a triple-double as Milwaukee’s defence was again a major problem — going down 40-24 after the first quarter and playing catch up thereafter. It saw the Bucks fall to 1-4 on the season, which is the equal second-worst record in the NBA.
Milwaukee got to within seven points midway through the second term before the Grizzlies closed the half on a 21-6 run to take a 70-48 lead into the main break.
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Memphis kept the foot down in the second half, holding a 20-plus point advantage for the majority of the way including going up 104-704 at one stage early in the fourth quarter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the starters tried to will the visitors back in the game in the final term, but they closest they got was 18 points as both coaches empties their benches with around five minutes left.
Antetokounmpo, who rival teams are reportedly hopeful could eventually demand a trade if Milwaukee’s struggles continue, dropped 37 points on 17-of-22 shooting with 11 rebounds.
The Bucks’ next highest scorer was Brook Lopez (12 points), while Damian Lillard scored four points on 1-of-12 shooting in a forgettable performance from the eight-time All-Star.
Morant (26 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists) led all five Grizzlies starters in double figures — a starting line-up missing Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart through injury — as they improved to 3-3.
It’s the beginning of a five-game west road trip for the Bucks, who fell to 20-27 overall in the Doc Rivers era and have a bottom 10 defensive rating this season.
In other results on Friday (all times AEDT), the Houston Rockets took down the Mavericks in Dallas 108-102. Meanwhile San Antonio Spurs travel to Utah to meet the Jazz and the Phoenix Suns are in Los Angeles against the Clippers.
Elsewhere, ESPN’s Shams Sharania reports Orlando Magic’s rising superstar Paolo Banchero is out indefinitley due to a right torn oblique. The former No. 1 pick will be re-evaluated in approximately four to six weeks.
Banchero had been averaging 29 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists through five games for the 3-2 Magic including dropping 50 points against Indiana earlier this week.
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