The Milwaukee Bucks weren’t given a break by the NBA schedule-makers.
They are in the midst of playing four of their first five games on the road — and five of their first seven.
The results have not been pleasant.
When the Bucks visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night, Milwaukee will try to snap a three-game losing streak, which includes back-to-back road losses to the Brooklyn Nets and the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.
But the Bucks are attempting to remain even-keel.
“The best teams, when it’s going good (and) when it’s not going good, they trust in themselves to do the right things on both sides of the ball,” guard Damian Lillard said. “They don’t change when they are doing great, and they don’t change when things aren’t going great.”
Despite the team’s struggles, Giannis Antetokounmpo is off to a torrid start. He is averaging 28.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists through four games.
Lillard has nearly matched Antetokounmpo’s output, averaging 28.0 points and 6.3 assists.
Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers also has been impressed with the play of 17-year veteran center Brook Lopez. He had 13 points and six rebounds in 32 minutes at Boston on Monday.
“He was phenomenal,” Rivers said. “We need to extend his minutes.”
Like Milwaukee, Memphis enters Thursday’s game struggling early in the season. The Grizzlies have lost two straight games — both at home — including Monday’s collapse against the Chicago Bulls. Memphis was ahead by 20 points in the second quarter and 14 at halftime but lost 126-123.
On Wednesday night, the Grizzlies were undone by turnovers and injuries. Memphis committed 22 turnovers and lost two starters to injuries — Marcus Smart (ankle) in the first quarter and Desmond Bane (oblique) in the third quarter.
But Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said it’s too early to push the panic button.
“It’s (only) five games in,” Jenkins said. “I think we’ve been playing some decent basketball except for the last two games and the second half at Houston.”
Memphis was outscored 69-43 during the second half of a road loss to the Rockets last week.
Jenkins has been critical of his team’s defensive efforts recently; the Grizzlies allowed the Bulls to tie a franchise record with 25 made 3-pointers on Monday.
As for the injuries, Jenkins said the Grizzlies will have to depend on their depth if Smart and Bane miss extended time.
“It’s a great Bucks team,” Jenkins said. “We’ve got to bring a better effort, and whoever is available to play, we just have to go out and compete better than we have the past two games. Those guys know it is unacceptable. We’ve got to find a way. I’ve got to lead better.”
Jenkins had to be encouraged by reserve forward Brandon Clarke, who scored 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field in 20 minutes in a 119-106 loss to Brooklyn on Wednesday. It was Clarke’s best performance since he returned from an Achilles injury that limited him to six games last season.
Seven-foot-four Zach Edey, the Grizzlies’ 2024 first-round draft pick, out of Purdue, also appeared more comfortable. He scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 18 minutes against the Nets.
–Field Level Media
