Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers (right) points out instructions as Giannis Antetokounmpo (left) stands by in the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Fiserv Arena in Milwaukee on Tue Jan 14, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Milwaukee Bucks (20-17) controlled the opening quarter leading the Sacramento Kings(20-19) 47-26 after the first 12 minutes of play in tonight’s matchup. The Kings were able to match the Bucks in the second and third quarters but could not get on top of Milwaukee playing from behind all night.

The Kings cut a 28 point deficit to 11 in the fourth quarter but that was as close as they would get. There would be no eighth win in a row for Sacramento. The final was 130-115 in favor of the Bucks.

Game recap: The first quarter was not the start that the Kings were looking for. The first six minutes of the first quarter was a close one but then the Bucks began to make a move extending a slim lead into a monster lead.

After the first 12 minutes of play, the Bucks had established a 47-26 lead. It was a huge lead for Milwaukee as they were leaving the Kings in the dust and Sacramento was being manhandled at every turn offensively and defensively.

The Kings started the second quarter going shot for shot with the Bucks but with 21 points to make up, shot for shot was not the answer. Mid-way through the quarter, not a single King had double digits. They were faced with a huge mountain to climb.

With a little under five minutes left in the first half, DeMar DeRozan was the first King to reach a double digit tally. The Bucks owned the paint shooting around 55% to the Kings 39%. At the half, the Bucks were cruising leading 75-54.

Milwaukee had led by as much as 28 points but the Kings cut it by as much as 12 points trailing 46-62 with 2:41 left in the half. The Bucks pushed their lead back out to 75-54 as the second quarter came to an end. The second quarter was a tie with each team scoring 28 points. Sacramento had matched the Bucks but had made absolutely no ground.

Milwaukee had controlled the paint through the two opening quarters scoring 34 points to the Kings 18. Both teams committed only four turnovers apiece so good ball protection on both sides. The poor second half of the first quarter was a killer for Sacramento.

They were not able to recover at all in the second quarter. They kept pace with Milwaukee but could not get on top of them. By the half the Kings had Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox and DeRozan all with double digits. The Bucks also had three starters with double figures; Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge with 19 points. The Sacramento Kings had a lot of work to do in the second half.

The Kings outscored the Bucks in the third quarter but only by a single point 28-27 and going into the fourth quarter, Milwaukee had a 102-82 lead. A win for Sacramento in this game was a long shot at best. An eighth win in a row was not looking very good for the Kings.

The fourth quarter got underway and at 9:42 the Kings trailed by 13 points making a bit of a run 91-104. The Sacramento run continued as the Kings pulled to within 11 points trailing 96-107 with a lot of game left.

That would be as close as Sacramento would get. They couldn’t make the stops, and they couldn’t make the shots when they needed them. The offensive excellence of the Bucks Tuesday night overwhelmed the Kings. Once again the Kings bench was quiet finishing with 17 points while the Milwaukee bench hit 41 points. The final for this game was 130-115 in favor of the Bucks.

Every starter for the Kings shot double figures with DeRozan leading the pack shooting for 28 points and six rebounds. Fox finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, a double double. Sabonis also had a double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Keon Ellis had 18 points and Keegan Murray shot for 11 points and 7 rebounds.

Game notes: Tuesday night the Kings took on the Bucks looking for their eighth win in a row but it was too much Giannis scoring 33 points and the Kings ended their seven game win streak. The Kings were faced with containing Antetokounmpo and Damien Lilliard a monster task.

Sacramento had most of their starting roster ready to roll in this game as they finish up this road trip. Malik Monk unfortunately did not play in Tuesday night’s game. He is dealing with a groin injury and is listed as day-to-day. The Kings will really missed him in this tough matchup. They tried to finish up this final game with a win and get a spotless road trip but it wasn’t to be.

The Kings will now return home to Golden 1 Center for a matchup with the Houston Rockets on Thursday looking to start another win streak. This will be another tough assignment for the team but they are fully capable of coming out on top. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.