The Milwaukee Bucks wrapped up their four-game Western Conference road trip on Wednesday with a tough loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. From the very start, Milwaukee struggled to keep the game competitive. They never held a lead and didn’t even manage to tie the score at any point, eventually falling 130-99 in a one-sided contest.
The result wasn’t entirely unexpected. The Bucks have been going through a rough stretch, losing 12 of their last 15 games, and they were also missing several key players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, and Kevin Porter Jr.
With so many absences, Ryan Rollins took on a bigger role and delivered a strong performance. He led the team with 36 points on an efficient 50% shooting, while also adding four rebounds and four assists. Ousmane Dieng and Jericho Sims chipped in as well, combining for 28 points and providing some support in the starting lineup.
However, Portland had control of the game throughout. Seven Blazers players scored in double figures, showing just how balanced their attack was. Scoot Henderson led the way with 23 points. Meanwhile, Donovan Clingan stood out with another impressive performance, finishing with 14 points and 15 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the month.
Milwaukee Bucks playoffs picture: Updated Standings
After Wednesday’s loss at the Moda Center, the Milwaukee Bucks have fallen to 29-43, leaving them in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. While they still have a shot, mathematically, at making the play-in tournament, the chances are extremely slim.
Right now, they’re tied with the 12th-place Chicago Bulls at the same record and sit nine games behind the 10th-place Orlando Magic. With only ten games left in the season, the path is tough. The Bucks would need to win out and hope the Magic lose every remaining game just to sneak into the play-in.
Milwaukee Bucks playoffs picture: Remaining Schedule
The Milwaukee Bucks have one of the easier schedules left in the league, ranking around the 12th weakest overall and fifth easiest in the Eastern Conference. Their remaining opponents have an average win rate of 49%.
However, the situation is still tough. Only the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Brooklyn Nets, whom they face twice, have records worse than theirs. The rest of their matchups include much stronger teams like the San Antonio Spurs, LA Clippers, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and Philadelphia 76ers.
Even if the Bucks manage to win the four more favorable games, they would only finish the season at 33-49. Unfortunately, that record would still fall short of what is needed to secure a spot in the play-in tournament.
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