Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma called the team’s 127-82 loss to the Brooklyn Nets “very disappointing,” criticizing the squad’s lack of consistent effort on Sunday at Barclays Center.
Kuzma singled out the team’s slow start, saying, “We just didn’t play hard… we allowed them to do whatever they wanted on offense, turned the ball over a lot,” highlighting early lapses that allowed Brooklyn to build a commanding lead.
The forward emphasized the need for energy and maturity on both ends, noting, “We have to mature on the ball, off the ball, mature with our energy on a night-and-night basis.”
Reflecting on Milwaukee’s road struggles, Kuzma compared the team’s slow starts to getting “punched in the mouth,” adding, “We fight in round seven, round eight… but it’s too late. We need to start setting that tone.”
Kuzma described the 45-point margin as a low point for the season, saying, “No question. 45 points to a team that’s trying to lose… we are proof of that tonight.”
He also criticized the team’s inconsistency despite having talent, noting, “There’s talent in this extreme, extreme talent… but it’s not on the string together. It’s just talent. It’s not a team.”
Milwaukee shot just 39 percent overall and 23 percent from three-point range, while committing 20 turnovers. Gary Trent Jr. led the team with 20 points, and Kuzma added 13 points and seven rebounds in the defeat.
Brooklyn dominated offensively, shooting 53 percent from the field and 44 percent from three, with rookie Egor Demin scoring 17 points and Noah Clowney adding 16. The Nets led 65-46 at halftime and extended the advantage with a 24-11 third-quarter run.
Kuzma stressed the importance of regrouping, saying the team has “another reset” with a few days before its next game. He called for the Bucks to mature on both ends of the floor, stating, “We have to mature on the ball, off the ball… mature with our energy on a night and night basis.”
Milwaukee will aim to regroup when they host the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, attempting to recover from their worst loss of the season while focusing on consistency and defensive execution.
