[K0ZZ]

Kobe Bryant takes an early shot in the Bucks loss

MIL 28 16 32 23 10 109
MIN 23 24 23 29 11 110

Controversy strikes! Bledsoe over the line?

(Minneapolis, MN) - The new look Timberwolves came into this game with high expectations and very nearly had their hopes dashed by a scrappy young Milwaukee squad that didn't yield from any challenge the team threw at them. The Bucks actually led through most of the game before succumbing in the fourth and having to make a small rally. It might've taken a judgement call by a referee that will definitely be talked about for a while, as to whether the buzzer beater by Eric Bledsoe had been a three, but regardless, the referee made his call and the Milwaukee Bucks get their first tally in the loss column.

Led by Dwight Howard (29 PTS - 17 REB - 2 BLK), the Timberwolves saw a strong post presence that was led by a beautiful pick and roll game orchestrated by the maestro of the offense in Ricky Rubio. Early passes went wide and didn't connect, but finally the alley oops connected and the offense started churning, and when the Bucks crashed inside? Eric Fournier (21 PTS) and Andrew Wiggins (12 PTS) led an outside barrage. The Timberwolves played like a true championship contender for a good portion of the game and that's the effect that adding a player in the caliber of Dwight Howard.

On the flipside of things, the Bucks boards largely came from three players. Tristan Thompson, Willie Cauley-Stein [who also had 4 blocks] and Kristaps Porzingis all had double digit rebounds, an obvious working point for Stein and Porzingis and forming those numbers against a force such as Dwight Howard was impressive, while Jabari Parker in his first game back from injury had 23 points and 7 assists. Eric Bledsoe had 18 points and 5 assists in his return to the hard court. Kobe Bryant scored 15 points in his Milwaukee debut and the rookies Howie Miller (14 PTS), Pat Stribbling (5 PTS) and
Carl Pearson (1 REB - 1 STL) had good to average debuts in their openers.

The sting will be felt as the Bucks fall to 0-1 thanks to a referee's decision that Bledsoe was inside the arc on his buzzer beating three that cleared the net and dropped the Bucks which was on the verge of a second huge shot, when Jabari Parker tied the game in regulation at the buzzer on a three. The Milwaukee Bucks face the Portland Trailblazers next.

Milwaukee Bucks Starting Five
Rajon Rondo (PG) 16 PTS - 2 REB - 2 AST - 1 STL
Eric Bledsoe (SG) 18 PTS - 3 REB - 5 AST - 3 STL
Jabari Parker (SF) 23 PTS - 3 REB - 7 AST - 1 BLK
Kristaps Porzingis (PF) 6 PTS - 12 REB - 6 AST - 1 STL - 1 BLK
Willie Cauley-Stein (C) 10 PTS - 10 REB - 7 AST - 1 STL 4 BLK

Minnesota Timberwolves Top Performer
Dwight Howard (C) 29 PTS - 17 REB - 1 AST - 1 STL - 2 BLK

Meet the Milwaukee Bucks!

Rookie Point Guard - Pat Stribling