Bucks blown out, Doc Rivers surprised: “I liked the game plan”

The Milwaukee Bucks’ season continues to slide down an increasingly steep slope. The loss on the road against the San Antonio Spurs – a decisive 119-100 defeat at the Frost Bank Center – isn’t just another slip in the standings; it’s yet another snapshot of a team struggling to recognize itself, especially away from home.

For long stretches of the game, Milwaukee looked drained, slow in its reads, and unable to impose its tempo. The deficit ballooned to as many as 29 points before a late push in the fourth quarter – a 32-12 closing run – that never truly felt like it could reopen the game.

Doc Rivers’ analysis

In the postgame, Doc Rivers broke down his Bucks’ performance, pinpointing the turning point: the second quarter, which in his view paved the way for the crushing 16-40 third period.

In the first half, the problem was the fouls. They had what, 20 free throws by halftime? This is a league where you win or lose based on made shots.

Doc Rivers

A read that goes beyond the box score. Milwaukee attempted 48 three-pointers – many of them, according to the coach, properly generated—but a cold shooting night compounded a lack of defensive discipline.

I liked the game plan. We played the right way. But the fouls and the last six minutes of the second quarter cost us dearly.

Doc Rivers

Numbers that point to a structural loss

The most concerning figure came on the glass: 50-37 Spurs. A gap that signals a lack of energy and physical presence – areas a team with championship ambitions cannot afford to overlook.

The loss to San Antonio marked a fourth straight defeat, dropping Milwaukee to 17-24. Just 24 hours earlier, the team had been loudly booed by its home crowd at Fiserv Forum after a heavy loss to Minnesota – a telling detail of how tense the atmosphere around the Bucks has become.

Giannis and Kuzma aren’t enough

Individually, Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points, five rebounds, and two steals, while Kyle Kuzma added 18 points off the bench. Solid numbers, but not enough to shift the momentum of a game that was never truly under control.

And that may be the most alarming aspect: even when the stars produce, Milwaukee doesn’t seem sturdy – on either end of the floor.

A turning point is needed – even a painful one

At this stage of the season, the idea that the Bucks’ issues will resolve themselves feels increasingly unrealistic. Rivers’ comments, while defending the game plan, hint at something deeper: execution, discipline, and consistency are not matching the team’s ambitions.

If the goal remains to compete at a high level, concrete changes may become inevitable – even at the cost of future assets. Staying the course would mean accepting a slow erosion of credibility, even before the standings take their toll.