Jazz fall to Bucks 123-100 as Milwaukee takes over with dominant 3rd quarter
by Ella Peterson, KSL.com · KSL.comEstimated read time: 2-3 minutes
MILWAUKEE — The Utah Jazz faced a tough test on Thursday night, falling 123-100 to the Milwaukee Bucks on the road.
With the loss, the Jazz drop to 1-7 on the season, while Milwaukee bounced back from a six-game losing streak, thanks to explosive performances by Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Lillard led the Bucks with 34 points, while Antetokounmpo, returning after sitting out Monday's game, added 31 points and 16 rebounds. Together, they powered Milwaukee to a strong finish, particularly in the third quarter when the Bucks took control of the game.
The Jazz started with promise, even briefly leading 71-70 in the third quarter, but things unraveled quickly as the Bucks launched a 17-1 run, capitalizing on Jazz turnovers and missed opportunities.
Lillard and Antetokounmpo were nearly unstoppable in that stretch, scoring Milwaukee's first 15 points of the run and effectively putting the game out of reach.
"I do think that the team's getting better," Jazz head coach Will Hardy said after the game. "But we had a third quarter that was pretty ugly. For the most part, Milwaukee's physicality impacted the game tonight on both ends of the floor."
Despite the lopsided score, the Jazz saw encouraging moments. Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 18 points off the bench, and rookie Isaiah Collier made his long-awaited NBA debut after sitting out a month due to injury.
"It felt good just getting out there," Collier said. "Being on the court for sure, first NBA game — it was an exciting moment."
Lauri Markkanen, who had a quieter night, echoed his coach's focus on growth, noting that the Jazz are still finding their rhythm as a team.
"They made us pay for our mistakes," he said. "We've just gotta be able to keep the dark moments short. There's some good in that game, but of course, some things we can learn."
Hardy expressed confidence in his team's direction, even with the tough loss.
"I think that the team is improving," he said. "I want our guys to focus on the large chunks of good basketball that have been played lately. We can't expect to play 48 clean minutes every game."
The Jazz will have to regroup quickly as they head to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Saturday night. The Bucks, meanwhile, will aim to build on this momentum when they travel to New York to face the Knicks on Friday.
For Utah, the challenge remains putting together a full, consistent effort as the squad gains more experience and cohesion.