If a player shoots 50/40/90 for the season, it is considered a magnificent season. That means they would have connected on at least 50% of their field goals, 40% of their three-point tries, and 90% of their free-throws. It would be unheard of and completely unprecedented to have a shooting split of 68.9/58.6/93.3. The Milwaukee Bucks finished with those marks in a team record performance on Tuesday night.
Milwaukee Bucks With Historic Shooting Night In Tuesday’s Win
Bucks End Losing Streak After Outstanding Shooting Performance
Entering Tuesday, the Bucks had been floundering of late. They were losers of four straight as the team is now without All-Star point guard Damian Lillard indefinitely (deep vein thrombosis). Giannis Antetokounmpo was still performing at the superstar level we have grown accustomed to, but he just hasn’t had enough help surrounding him.
Tuesday saw Milwaukee take on a Phoenix team who recently lost Kevin Durant to a sprained ankle. The Bucks put together one of the most accurate performances ever seen in their 133-123 victory. In their win, Milwaukee finished the outing shooting 51-74 (68.9%) from the field, 17-29 (58.6%) from beyond the arc, and 14-15 (93.3%) from the foul line.
That field goal accuracy in the outing is the highest in a single game in Bucks franchise history. It tops the previous mark of 66.7% accomplished by the team on December 15, 1985. That record nearly lasted for four decades until Tuesday.
The Bucks shooting display was also the best that the league has seen in over 27 years. According to ESPN, it’s the highest field goal percentage in a single game since the Los Angeles Clippers made 69.3% of their field goal attempts on March 13, 1998 against the Toronto Raptors.
The Bucks accuracy was so remarkable that Antetokounmpo shot 12-18 from the field and 2-4 on threes. That is quite the efficient scoring night. Still, both of those shooting marks somehow LESSENED the team’s overall field goal and three-point percentage. Out of the eight players who played for Milwaukee, every one of them hit at least half of their field goal attempts. Taurean Prince, the league leader in three-point percentage, improved his overall accuracy by shooting 4-5 from three-point territory.
Looking To Move Up Standings
For at least one night, the Bucks stopped the recent bleeding and improved their record to 41-34. That currently places them sixth in the Eastern Conference. They sit comfortably ahead of the seventh-place Orlando Magic by five games, putting them close to clinching a playoff berth. If Milwaukee can regain their winning ways, there is a chance to move up. The Bucks are a game behind the fifth-place Detroit Pistons and three games behind the fourth-place Indiana Pacers.
While catching Indiana will be very difficult, the opportunity may be there to pass Detroit. Each of the Bucks last two games are against the Pistons on April 11 and 13. Milwaukee won each of their first two meetings with Detroit, meaning even winning just one of those two would secure them the tiebreaker. In the meantime, the Bucks next play on Thursday on the road against the injury-ravaged Philadelphia 76ers.
Photo credit: © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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