The Bucks haven’t won consecutive games since Oct. 28 and Oct. 30. Nic Antaya / Getty Images
Following a comeback win over the Boston Celtics without Giannis Antetokounmpo on Thursday, Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma made one thing clear: That win would be meaningless without following it up with another win Sunday night in Brooklyn.
“We gotta do it again,” Kuzma said. “This all does not mean anything if we come out soft (the next game). If we come out not playing hard, then we’re two steps back.”
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers appreciated the sentiment, but ultimately told reporters that how his team played would mean a lot more than what it said.
“It’s what you want them all to say,” Rivers said before Sunday’s game. “And I think they think that. The talk sounds great, but … you still gotta go out and do it.”
Kuzma’s warning ended up being prophetic as the Bucks put together a sloppy and unfocused effort in a 127-82 loss to the Brooklyn Nets three days after the surprise victory without their best player. The loss dropped the Bucks to 11-16 on the season, but just 3-9 on the road, and the Nets’ win was only their seventh of the season.
Kuzma himself brought a strong effort early in the game, scoring 8 of his 13 points in the first three minutes, but the game quickly got away from the Bucks.
After a Myles Turner free throw brought the Bucks within one, 19-18, with 5:19 remaining in the first quarter, the Nets closed the first quarter on an 18-7 run to take a 37-25 lead into the second quarter. Things only got worse for the Bucks from there.
At halftime, they trailed by 17 points. By the end of the third quarter, the Nets’ lead ballooned to 28 points. Less than three minutes into the fourth quarter, it was up over 30 and ultimately peaked at 45.
This story will be updated.