Bucks Nets Basketball
(AP Photo/Michael Owens)

The Brooklyn Nets lost yet another must-win game to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks by the final of 131-121. 

  • Milwaukee Bucks (58-20)
  • Brooklyn Nets (39-39)
  • Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
  • NBA, Final

A heavily contested match between two playoff teams resulted in a Brooklyn Nets loss on Monday night. Leading MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo and point guard Eric Bledsoe led Milwaukee past Brooklyn, 131-121.

After the Bucks took a 35-20 lead in the first quarter, it seemed Milwaukee was on it’s way to a blowout.

Still, Brooklyn maintained their poise and found themselves down just 59-54 at the half. But fight while they may, the Nets couldn’t find an answer for Antetokounmpo down the stretch.

After getting the deficit to as close as two at the end of the third quarter, Brooklyn allowed Milwaukee a 40-point fourth quarter that ultimately sealed their fate.

The Greek Freak finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Bledsoe finished with a team-high 29 points and seven assists. And former Brooklyn Net Brook Lopez finished with 14 points.

For the Nets, D’Angelo Russell lead all scorers with 28 points but had six turnovers and shot just 33 percent from the field.

Caris LeVert had another strong game, after returning from his injury, with 24 points and six assists.

And Jarrett Allen, without a double-double, still provided some highlights with his 12 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.

One of those was over Lopez and the other Antetokounmpo.

It was a glass half full, glass half empty night for the Nets. On one hand, it’s a welcome sight to see them compete with a team as talented as the Milwaukee Bucks.

On the other hand, however, it’s tough to see them lose on a night they really needed to win. All three of Detroit, Orlando, and Miami lost on Monday as well.

Which makes it all the more bittersweet the Nets couldn’t capture a win. But that also encourages their potential playoff birth with four games remaining.

For now, Brooklyn will remain 39-39, and the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.

And the Detroit Pistons remain half a game ahead of them as the sixth seed, but the Nets hold the tiebreaker.

It’s only going to be tougher for Brooklyn on Wednesday night when they host the 55-23 Toronto Raptors. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Writer, reader, entertainer. New York Knicks and the Carolina Panthers. Hoodie Melo is my spirit animal.