Camille Davis and Justin Garcia here, the hosts of the daily Locked On Bucks podcast, with your daily Locked On Bucks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Bucks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Bucks Pick Up Big Win Over Heat Despite Travel Woes
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard takes a shot against Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. | Benny Sieu/Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks showed their resilience and depth in a commanding 29-point victory over the Miami Heat, overcoming significant travel challenges that threatened to derail their momentum. Despite being snowed in at New Orleans and arriving in Milwaukee just hours before tipoff, the Bucks rallied from an early deficit to secure their fifth straight win.
The game’s start was delayed by an hour due to the Bucks’ late arrival, and it showed in their sluggish 18-3 opening. However, the team quickly found their rhythm, sparked by an impressive bench performance. Gary Trent Jr. was particularly instrumental, scoring 12 of his 21 points in a pivotal second quarter run that turned the tide in Milwaukee’s favor.
Damian Lillard overcame a slow start to finish with a near triple-double, posting 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. His six points in the final second of the first half, including a spectacular buzzer-beater from behind the backboard, epitomized the Bucks’ resilience and offensive firepower.
The absence of Khris Middleton and AJ Green due to rest and injury respectively didn’t hinder the Bucks’ bench production. Ryan Rollins provided solid two-way play, while Bobby Portis contributed timely scoring to stabilize the team during crucial stretches.
Defensively, the Bucks continued to show improvement, maintaining their top-10 defensive rating. The team’s strategic use of zone defense has proven effective, particularly with mixed lineups on the floor.
This victory extends the Bucks’ streak of scoring at least 120 points to five games, showcasing their offensive potency even in challenging circumstances. The team’s ability to overcome adversity and dominate despite travel fatigue speaks volumes about their depth and championship aspirations.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Bucks’ impressive win over the Heat, tune into the Locked On Bucks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Bucks Podcast:
• Giannis Antetokounmpo named All-Star starter for the ninth consecutive year • Andre Jackson Jr. selected for the NBA Dunk Contest • Preview of upcoming four-game West Coast road trip
Jan 23, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts following the win over Sacramento Kings at Ball Arena. | Ron Chenoy/Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
If you watch NBA basketball then you know 3-pointers are up. You know because you’re seeing it, night after night, no matter the team you follow. Matter of fact, if you look at this season’s 3-point attempts there is going to be a deep-court shooter on your team. It doesn’t mean they are making those shots, but boy, are they chucking them.
You likely also know because we can’t stop talking about it. The royal “we” in this case of NBA media, and then onto fans, then back to media in a never-ending cycle. You may be sick of hearing about threes at this, the halfway point of the 2024-2025 season but I’m sorry say — tough luck.
At least half tough luck. Threes aren’t going away — we can pretty plainly see this to be true night after night — but the good news is their volume and habituality will make it so sooner or later our approach to them is less wide-eyed and speculative than accepting. They’ll become the new normal.
No other athlete embodies this normalization better than the greatest NBA player in the world at present: Nikola Jokic.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Analysis Victor Wembanyama is reshaping the NBA as we know it. (The Ringer)
Must Read The chosen one: Scottie Barnes as hope and saviour for the Raptors franchise. (Toronto Life)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Crucial Streaming Decisions in a Topsy-Turvy Week
Jan 15, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) in action against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
As we approach Friday’s NBA action, we’re faced with an unusual schedule that demands careful consideration for fantasy managers. With only three games on the slate, it’s a critical day for streaming, especially given the peculiar schedule ahead.
The coming week presents a unique challenge: over the next six days of NBA action, several teams have zero quality game days. This means that adding a streamer without careful planning could result in zero games played, effectively wasting a roster spot. Teams like the Nets, Celtics, Bulls, Mavericks, Nuggets, and Pistons all have three games over the next six days, but none on streamable days.
Portland stands out as the best team for streaming, with three quality games over the next six days. Philadelphia is the only other team with more than one, boasting two quality games. This schedule advantage makes players from these teams particularly valuable for the short term.
Friday’s games feature the Blazers vs. Hornets, Cavaliers vs. 76ers, and Pelicans vs. Grizzlies. All teams playing on Friday are part of a back-to-back, with Portland coming off a Thursday game and the others playing again on Saturday.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Bucks podcasts.
No Beal for the Milwaukee Bucks...Who Remain Stranded in New Orleans on Gameday With the Milwaukee Bucks facing the Miami Heat, travel complications add an unexpected twist to the game. Meanwhile, the buzz around Bradley Beal trade rumors has fans and analysts questioning the Bucks’ strategy.
The Bucks Second Half Schedule Just Got More Challenging While Trade Rumors Intensify The Milwaukee Bucks face a whirlwind of challenges, from a snowstorm postponing their game against the New Orleans Pelicans to swirling trade rumors involving stars like Jimmy Butler and Bradley Beal.
The Damian Lillard All-Star Debate and Where Does History Say the Bucks Offense Needs to Rank? Can the Milwaukee Bucks secure multiple All-Star spots this season? With Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge, the Bucks are making waves in the NBA. As All-Star voting wraps up, the spotlight is on Damian Lillard’s chances amidst fierce Eastern Conference competition.
