Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers highlighted Ryan Rollins’ career-high 32 points and the team’s bench depth in Thursday’s 120–110 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Fiserv Forum. The win came despite Giannis Antetokounmpo being sidelined with left knee soreness.
Rivers said, “He’s just tough, you know? He’s a tough kid, man…our belief was that maybe we can get them tired. I thought that’s what actually happened in some places.” He emphasized the team’s strategy of maintaining extreme pace throughout the game.
The Bucks relied on balanced scoring, with Myles Turner contributing 17 points, Cole Anthony 16, Kyle Kuzma 10, Gary Trent Jr. 13, and AJ Green 10. Rivers praised the resilience of his roster: “We didn’t blink…I hate mentioning when guys are out ‘cause then they start thinking about it. We just came out and played.”
Rivers noted the importance of bench readiness: “It’s amazing that we won an all-bench group when we had two starters out…to get those guys to stay ready is hard to do, and guys are doing that.” Rollins’ confidence in the fourth quarter, including a key three-pointer after Stephen Curry cut Milwaukee’s lead to 106–104, was a highlight for the coach.
“The whole team…we embolden our guys. That’s what we’re doing. We’re telling them to shoot, hunt for matchups, make plays, and move the ball,” Rivers added. He also praised Turner for his preparation and poise in knocking down crucial shots.
Golden State was led by Curry with 27 points, Jonathan Kuminga with 24, and Jimmy Butler with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Despite cutting Milwaukee’s lead to two late in the fourth quarter, the Warriors could not overcome the Bucks’ timely three-pointers and strong defensive pressure.
The Bucks improved to 4-1, while Golden State fell to 4-2. Milwaukee will host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, and the Warriors visit the Indiana Pacers. Rivers emphasized that Thursday’s win shows the team’s depth and resilience early in the season.
