There are always moments in the NBA that catch people off guard, and in this big battle, a highly-anticipated favorite to win the championship collapsed at home, catching fans off guard and setting off a basketball storm. The Milwaukee Bucks, the once favored Eastern powerhouse, suffered an incredible counterattack against the Jazz, the dark horse in the West.
As soon as the game began, the Jazz opened up a huge margin with a shocking three-point shooting percentage. Sexton and Dunn hit four three-pointers in a row to put the Bucks in the middle of a storm. Markkanen and Collins blossomed inside and out, at one point leaving the Bucks trailing by a huge 18-point mark in the first quarter. Throughout the first quarter, the Jazz's three-point firepower was like a raging fire, and the Bucks were difficult to parry, and the score of 41-23 signaled that a fierce competition had begun.
In the second quarter, the Jazz's offensive frenzy continued. Clarkson attacked strongly, and Abaki singled out the alphabet brother, making the Bucks' defense even more shaky. Beasley's three-point shot and Antetokounmpo efforts failed to stop the Jazz from taking the lead. At halftime, the Jazz led the Bucks by 29 points at 77-46, and the situation on the court looked bleak.
In the second half, the Bucks launched a stubborn counterattack. Beasley and Sexton had three points in a row, and Brother Alphabet also began to exert his power, forcing the inside line and playing 2+1. However, while the Bucks quickly recovered 19 points midway through the third quarter, a massive first-half loss made it difficult for them to turn the game around.
In the fourth quarter, the Jazz adjusted their state in time to contain the Bucks' counterattack. Markkanen stepped up and took what he wanted on the inside, scoring back-to-back points to lead his team back to extending the lead to more than 10 points. Although his personal breakthrough and triple-double data were impressive, they were unable to salvage the game, and the Bucks eventually lost to the Jazz 116-132.
The loss left the Bucks having to contend with the team's recent exposure in several games. In particular, the lack of strength on the defensive end became an important reason for the team's defeat. In two consecutive games, opponents have been able to easily penetrate the Bucks' defense, causing fans to worry about the team's defensive ability.
It's worth mentioning that the Bucks are missing a key player in this game, which is Lillard. His performance in the last four games has been very sluggish, shooting only 16% from three-point range, and his shooting percentage has dropped to 34%. As the team's second-in-command, Lillard's form has a direct impact on the overall performance of the Bucks.
Bucks head coach Griffin said: "Lillard is going to be fine, we're going to share the weal and woe, and he's going to get out of trouble." And teammate Middleton also comforted Lillard: "We know very well what Damian Lillard is capable of, and hopefully he can start with shooting, everyone will have a low point in the season." ”
As one of the dark horses in the West, the Jazz have a remarkable record of 10 wins and 4 losses in the last 14 games. Markkanen, Collins, Clarkson and others showed strong offensive firepower in the game, especially from beyond the three-point line. Their team-wide offense worked together tacitly, and everyone was able to shoot the ball, making the Bucks look helpless on the defensive end.
In this game, the Jazz put the Bucks into a desperate situation with an excellent three-point performance, especially in the first quarter with a crazy shooting rate. In the whole game, Sexton, Collins, Clarkson and other players contributed 19 points each, and Markkanen scored 21 points and 14 rebounds. They used their strength to announce to the league that the Jazz are no longer the obscure team of the past, but a strong team that can take off on the journey deep into the playoffs.
This unexpected victory allowed the Jazz to rise to 11th place in the West, surpassing the original Western Conference powerhouse Warriors. This is undoubtedly a jaw-dropping counterattack that has made fans start to take a second look at this strong Jazz team. Their recent performances are not only a surprise to their opponents, but also a full demonstration of their own strength.
This game, although it brought unexpected results, it is this kind of grandeur that makes basketball so fascinating. Although Brother Alphabet's triple-double failed to save the defeat, his hard work and persistence have won the admiration of fans. And the rise of the Jazz makes us look forward to this dark horse in the West. The world of basketball will always be a world full of passion and variables, let's look forward to the next game and watch the world of basketball continue to burn in this ever-changing moment!