ATLANTA — Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers introduced a new rotation on Monday, making significant changes ahead of their matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. Instead of starting both young point guards, Rivers chose to separate them. Ryan Rollins remained in the starting lineup, while Kyle Kuzma stepped in for Kevin Porter Jr., who transitioned to a bench role. Additionally, Rivers took Gary Trent Jr. out of the lineup, despite the guard averaging 24.6 minutes in 39 games this season, opting to include two-way forward Pete Nance instead.
Rivers explained his rationale for the lineup changes, stating, “Just size. We thought putting size in the lineup would be great. And when you do that, you have to separate the guards. Our second unit was all plus tonight, so I thought it went really well for us. Pete Nance was phenomenal.”
The adjustments paid off, as the Bucks secured a narrow 112-110 victory against the Hawks, tightening their pursuit of the Eastern Conference’s final Play-In Tournament spot. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with a strong performance, recording 21 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists within 30 minutes, adhering to his minutes restriction. Rollins improved his shooting accuracy, going 6-of-12 from the field for 14 points, while Porter contributed with nine points, six rebounds, and seven assists off the bench.
When asked if this lineup change could be a long-term solution, Rivers responded cautiously, acknowledging the team’s inconsistency this season. “I don’t know… Can we do it four, five times in a row? One night? Yeah. We’re gonna do it again, but we haven’t had any consistency to say that anything’s long-term,” he stated.
Despite this uncertainty, the Bucks enjoyed a more positive overall presence on the court during this game. Antetokounmpo’s momentary absences did not derail the team’s momentum, with the Bucks showing they could maintain leads while he was off the floor. Notably, when he exited with the Bucks ahead by two points, they established a 15-point lead by the time he returned.
Nance played a critical role, though he didn’t show up on the scoreboard, facilitating offensive movements and emphasizing the importance of ball movement in Antetokounmpo’s absence. His efforts demonstrated that contributing to team dynamics does not always depend on scoring but on making the right plays and positioning.
As the team preps for an upcoming challenge against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Bucks recognize that they must elevate their performance level to secure victories against formidable opponents. The contributions from players like Nance and the leadership shown by Antetokounmpo will be vital as the Bucks aspire for consistency and progress in the second half of the season. With their recent victory, there’s a renewed sense of hope for the team, and they will aim to build on this momentum moving forward.