Another 30 point game from Brandon Jennings leads Bucks to first road win
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Shaun Livingston, PG 34 MIN | 7-10 FG | 4-4 FT | 5 REB | 3 AST | 18 PTS | +22
Livingston has a very specific game and he executed it tonight. In his first start of the season for the suspended Stephen Jackson, Livingston made six of seven shots in the paint. He uses his size so well and is quick to move the ball too. It helps when he’s on the court with guys who can shoot the three, as it mitigates his inability from deep. |
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Carlos Delfino, SF 29 MIN | 4-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 2 AST | 9 PTS | +8
Delfino and Luc Mbah a Moute did a stellar defensive job on Carmelo Anthony. They stayed with him, played physical and frustrated him into two technical fouls and a fairly inefficient line that saw him score 35 points on 26 shots. They made him stick with the long jumper, a shot he can make, but a short worth ceding. |
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Brandon Jennings, PG 36 MIN | 15-26 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 5 AST | 36 PTS | +17
Four shots. Jennings took just four shots against the Knicks that weren’t in the paint or from three-point range. With 26 attempts, that’s a pretty terrific ratio. He’s always seemed to like playing the Garden and Friday was certainly no exception. When he’s hitting threes, he’s a very difficult cover. New York’s patchwork point guards certainly were no match. |
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Drew Gooden, PF 22 MIN | 2-9 FG | 6-8 FT | 11 REB | 0 AST | 10 PTS | +2
In a backup role, with plenty of other talented players on the court, that allows him to focus on rebounding and put-backs, Gooden works well. He’s generally ridiculous to watch when he’s taking on a real active role, but he’s always been a useful rebounder. Rebounds, put-backs and the free throws that result from them can be his thing. |
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Ersan Ilyasova, PF 23 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 9 REB | 3 AST | 3 PTS | +15
It seemed we never went more than a few seconds without hearing Ilyasova’s name when he was in the game tonight. He battled for rebounds all night and pestered the Knicks pricey frontline. He earned every one of his nine rebounds. |
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Three Things We Saw
- Jennings was on the court for 36 minutes, but certainly spent a good amount of time inside the mind of Carmelo Anthony late in the game. Jennings will encourage some chippy play here and there, especially when he’s feeling it from three and the Bucks are winning. I’m sure he reveled in Anthony’s second technical.
- I’m sure many will point to Jackson’s absence, the Bucks win and the solid play from Livingston as a clear pattern for success, but let’s avoid jumping that gun just yet. There’s a lot of season left and Jackson isn’t going anywhere any time soon. The Bucks need to find a way to get him playing well regularly.
- 1-8 on the road. A lot better than 0-9.
