Milwaukee Bucks edged the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 118-116 Wednesday at Fiserv Forum, with head coach Doc Rivers emphasizing execution, attention to detail, and learning from mistakes.
“Scoot obviously gets kind of open in the mid-range there. We put Bobby in to get more spacing on the floor. So we knew we would get something out of it,” Rivers said, describing how offensive adjustments created opportunities for key scorers.
Rivers highlighted balanced scoring, noting, “Another night, two nights in a row now where it’s Kevin and it’s Ryan scoring your final eight points of the night.” Kevin Porter Jr. led the team with 20 points, while Ryan Rollins added 18.
The coach also addressed in-game lapses: “We had a 12-point lead and came down, took a jacked quick three, turned the ball over three times… and it’s a one-point game. That’s the lesson tonight.” Rivers stressed the importance of capitalizing on momentum and converting key possessions.
On individual contributions, Rivers praised bench execution: “I thought Jericho was huge because he was able to roll and get behind their defense, and that opened up for Ryan and Scoot.” He noted how Jericho Sims’ movement created opportunities similar to what Giannis Antetokounmpo typically provides in pick-and-roll actions.
Rivers also emphasized defensive effort: “Both Ellis and Schroder are such pesky defenders. Our guards have to come off with incredible pace, otherwise you don’t get anything out of it.” He connected defensive pressure to offensive results, highlighting the synergy between the two.
He reflected on shooting efficiency as a factor in the win: “We shot 55% from the field, 42% from three. We got 45 threes up… we won that margin. Nineteen threes to 12 threes — that’s the difference.” Milwaukee’s ability to capitalize from distance helped offset missing star Giannis Antetokounmpo, sidelined with a strained right calf.
Rivers celebrated team chemistry and momentum: “Stacking wins, it is eight out of 10… with no Giannis, you can take that all day. It makes you feel like you can win. When you lose a bunch of games in a row, you start thinking about losing… it’s human nature.”
He also noted the importance of versatile scorers: “Having a guy that can get behind the defense, it makes their defense change… Jericho got those dunks, then Ryan laid it in because the big’s scared now.” The ability for multiple players to contribute in varied ways was central to Milwaukee’s approach.
Milwaukee looks to continue its winning stretch against the New York Knicks on Friday, with Rivers emphasizing the need to maintain execution, pace, and balance across all lineups.
