The Bucks are 0-2 after a 132-125 home-opener loss to Chicago that began with a 15-point lead. Tonight they visit a Philadelphia team that has won both of its games.
Last season
Milwaukee went 32-50 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17, ranking 24th on offense and 26th on defense. Doc Rivers resigned afterward, which left a front office and a roster open to a full rebuild. Philadelphia, tonight's opponent, finished 45-37 and was nearly even on both ends of the floor.
This summer
Taylor Jenkins was hired April 30. On June 23 Milwaukee sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami, with Portis alongside him, and received Herro, Jaquez, Ware and Jakucionis. The same draft brought Brayden Burries at 10th and Nate Ament at 13th. Payroll stands at $191.4M, $9.0M below the $200.4M tax line.
October 21
The regular season opened at Washington with a 128-116 loss. Jaquez scored 18 and Herro 17. Five days earlier, the preseason had closed with a 128-127 win at Indiana, where Herro had 25. Neither result told much about a roster that is only four months old.
October 23
Milwaukee was up 32-17 after the opening period and 15 at its peak. Chicago answered with 16 straight points in the second quarter, then closed on an 8-0 run in the last minute and a quarter. Herro scored 34, 13 of them in the fourth. Jaquez had 19 points, 11 rebounds and six turnovers.
Today
Philadelphia is 2-0 under Nick Nurse. LeBron James and Dean Wade are both listed day-to-day. The number to watch is Jaquez's six turnovers: the Journal Sentinel's Jim Owczarski wrote that he is being asked to initiate a lot. Whether Jenkins keeps that load on him is the open question.
Who do the Bucks play on October 24?
Milwaukee visits the Philadelphia 76ers tonight, with the game on NBA TV. The Sixers are 2-0.
What is the Bucks' record this season?
They are 0-2, after a 128-116 loss at Washington and a 132-125 home loss to Chicago.
