The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net    

AS the Golden State Warriors’ playoff push continues in the Western Conference, Grand Bahamian National Basketball Association (NBA) pro Chavano “Buddy” Hield has put up some steady numbers off the bench.

Hield led the bench unit in scoring on Tuesday night in the Dubs 104-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at the Chase Centre in San Francisco, California.

He scored 15 points and pulled down six rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench. He shot 5-for-7 from the field and nailed four threes in the contest.

The Warriors, who played without the services of star point guard Stephen Curry, handed the Bucks their second straight loss and improved to 40-29 (win/loss record) on the season for the sixth seed in the Western Conference.

Jimmy Butler III, who was acquired from the Miami Heat at the trade deadline, led all scorers with 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in 37 minutes.

Brandin Podziemski returned from injury and was slotted in the starting unit to replace Curry. He pitched in 17 points to pair with seven rebounds and shot 60 per cent from the field. Meanwhile, Milwaukee had a tough shooting night. Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists but shot 5-for-16 from the field. Former Wizards player Kyle Kuzma led the Bucks in scoring with a team-high 22 points, two boards and two assists in 37 minutes of action.

A dismal shooting performance by the Bucks had them playing catch up for almost the entire contest against the Warriors.

The Dubs took off early, earning a 15-6 lead after Podziemski drained a three off a Butler assist with 8:23 on the clock in the first.

Milwaukee gained some ground to shave the early deficit down to just 3 (20-17) but ‘Buddy’ connected on a three to push the lead back to 7 (32-25) with 1:05 to go.

The Bucks trailed 32-27 headed into the second quarter.

What once was just a five-point lead at the end of one blossomed into a double-digit deficit once again in the second period.

Butler made good on a close range two and extended the lead to 10 (39-29) early in the quarter.

Golden State opened the second with a 10-2 run to create some space before ‘Buddy’ knocked down a pullup jumper at the 4:01 mark to shift the score to 52-35.

The Curry-less Warriors were in control of the ball game 58-44 at halftime after outscoring the Bucks 26-17 in the second period.

The Bucks came out of the locker rooms rejuvenated and used the long ball to get back into the game. 

With the score at 62-46, Milwaukee got two threes from Kuzma and one from versatile big man Brook Lopez to chip into the Warriors advantage.

An unanswered 14-0 run placed the Bucks within 2 (62-60) but Draymond Green stopped the bleeding for the Warriors with a floater at the 5:46 mark.

The road team finally took the lead after point guard Damian Lillard connected on a three of his own at the halfway mark of the third period.

Despite the Bucks outscoring the Dubs 32-20 in the third quarter, the Warriors still led 78-76 with one to go.

The Warriors threw the final blow to neutralise Milwaukee in the fourth. Hield hit his fourth and final three of the game which gave Golden State a 10-point cushion (86-76) and from that point the Bucks never regained their footing in the matchup.

The home team shot 41.6 per cent from the field while holding the road team to just 39.2 per cent shooting.

The Dubs connected on 38.6 per cent of their threes while the Bucks struggled for 31.6 per cent shooting.

Golden State obliterated the Bucks on the boards to win the rebound battle 52-34.

They also took advantage of their chances at the charity strike, making 23-of-26 free throws while the Bucks made just 19-of-27.

The Warriors will return to action tonight at 10pm against the Toronto Raptors at the Chase Centre.