The Milwaukee Bucks closed out the home slate of a 2025-26 season that everyone involved with wants to move on from quickly.
But the Bucks’ 125-108 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on April 10 at Fiserv Forum was … kinda fun.
OK, you have to set aside the existential crisis that awaits the franchise this off-season, with a possible coaching change and a seismic decision about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future.
BOX SCORE: Bucks 125, Nets 108
And, OK, you have to set aside that the game was against the Nets, who have 20 wins this season and had seven inactive players.
But there was a bigger crowd – 17,379 fans, a sellout – than probably anyone expected after Antetokounmpo was ruled out the day before.
And they got to see Cormac Ryan set a career high in points, Ousmane Dieg flirt with a triple-double with 12 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, and the Bucks bomb away from beyond the 3-point line, led by a blazing-hot AJ Green.
“It’s the theme of the year,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “When we play the right way offensively, we keep showing all year with the shooting that we have, we can be a great 3-point shooting team.
“And when we don’t, we don’t. It’s almost like the basketball gods were trying to pound it into us again, like, play right and good things happen.”
Cormac Ryan makes most of first NBA start
Ryan, on a two-way contract, set the tone in the first start of his NBA career.
The 6-fooot-5 guard has been playing more in recent weeks, including scoring 25 points against the Houston Rockets on April 1.
Ryan seemed intent on surpassing that in the first half against the Nets. He scored 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting in the first quarter.
“I was here earlier in the summer with the Bucks, and then I played most of the year with the Wisconsin Herd up in Oshkosh,” Ryan said.
“I got the opportunity to work my way up, get the call-up. To be a part of the last 12 or so games has been amazing.”
Ryan breezed past that career high in the second half and finished with 28 points. He has scored in double figures in seven straight games.
“Playing in the G League and kind of going through the trials and tribulations of the season, any season is going to come with its fair share of adversity,” Ryan said. “But this year in particular, for me, I had injuries, I had family members pass away, I had breakups, I had all types of stuff going on.
“Opportunities come and pass you by. Other guys get opportunities that you want. Through it all just placing trust in God and my faith really carried me.”
AJ Green sets franchise record with 11 3-pointers
Ryan sank five 3-pointers, and Taurean Prince hit 6 of 10 from long range.
But the shooting star on this night was Green, who set a franchise record with 11 3-pointers and finished with 35 points. It was the first 30-point game of his career.
“I don’t think you really know, you kind of just the play the game and (I) had shots start to fall,” Green said. “My teammates just kept telling me to shoot it and let it fly.
“So that’s just what I try to do. And they kept going in. Fun night. Good win.”
The previous record of 10 was shared by former Bucks stars Ray Allen and Damian Lillard.
That barrage got Green (227 triples) within striking distance of Allen’s Bucks record of 229 3-pointers in a season heading into the final regular-season game at Philadelphia on April 12.
The Bucks finished 24 for 48 (50%) on 3-pointers.
It’s been a banner few weeks for Green and his family. His father, Kyle, was recently hired as the head coach at Northern Iowa.
“I think he’ll be a proud dad,” Green said. “I love him a lot. As I grow up, too, it’s more of what he’s taught me outside of the game that applies to the game.
“Just in terms of your character and how to go about things. How to stay resilient, how to do good things with great energy and enthusiasm. Obviously, he’s taught me a lot of basketball stuff but I think what truly makes me a good player is what he taught me as a man.”
It might be a lost season for the Bucks, but Ryan and Green had nights they’ll remember forever.
“He’s a guy who works incredibly hard,” Ryan said. “And has earned every bit of this, and so we’re thrilled to see him have a night like tonight.
“Obviously we all know he’s an incredible shooter, but to really stamp it with a performance like this and he’s closing in on some really impressive records in a really impressive franchise. Some of the names mentioned are big-time names.”
What also makes it special is the work the two players put in together.
“Being able to make each other better,” Ryan said. “Guard each other. Play one-on-one.
“We played one-on-one at 5 a.m. in the summer. I’m not even kidding. I felt bad for our trainers because we had to drag them in instead of being asleep. Stuff like that makes nights like tonight special because you remember those early mornings and you remember those days where you’re working hard for a role.
“You don’t necessarily see that, you just know that the work will eventually show up. And the guy hits 11 3s tonight.”
Is Giannis playing?
No. Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss the 2025-26 home finale – and his 14th straight game – with a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee. He suffered the injury March 15 after landing awkwardly following a dunk. It was the second-to-last play he participated in (he followed with a cherry-picked dunk before being subbed out), and the last moments of him as a player in Fiserv Forum this season were spent trying to get back on the court.
A league investigation into the Bucks’ handling of Antetokounmpo’s health status is still ongoing. For his part, the 31-year-old maintains he’s healthy enough to play.
Bucks tank update
The Milwaukee Bucks (31-49) are battling the Chicago Bulls (31-49) for additional percentage points in the drawing, with the worst of those two teams getting the ninth-best lottery odds.
Heading into the game against Brooklyn, the lottery-tracking web site www.tankathon.com considers the Bucks to have the ninth-worst record in the league, meaning they have a 50.8% chance to win the No. 9 pick, with a 28.3% chance to win the No. 10 pick.
This matters, because the team that finishes with the 10th-worst record has no chance to win the No. 9 pick.
Should the Bulls and Bucks finish with the same record, however, the tie will be broken with a random drawing held later in April to determine the order of selection.
But that’s not the only tanking race to keep an eye on for Bucks fans.
In the Western Conference, New Orleans (26-54), Dallas (25-55) and Memphis (25-55) are bunched up, and the worst team in that group could have a 37.2% chance to win a top-four pick. The best team could see those top-four odds drop as low as 26.2%. This matters because if New Orleans lands a pick lower in the draft than Milwaukee, the Bucks keep their original position.
If the Bucks somehow jump over the Pelicans, New Orleans can swap position as a part of the 2020 Jrue Holiday trade. (Atlanta would then take that pick from New Orleans due to an unrelated 2025 trade. That has no bearing on Milwaukee).
When is the NBA draft lottery?
The Bucks will get some guidance on the direction of the franchise when the ping pong balls are released on May 10 in Chicago.
AJ Green holding on to his favorite shoes
AJ Green grinned. He is well aware of how his favorite pair of game shoes look. He even had a referee ask him if they were safe to play in. He assured the official that yes, they are, they’re just a little tattered.
“They still work,” Green said with a sheepish smile. “It’s such a good shoe. Usually the first thing that goes on a shoe is either like the sole, like inside, or the outside with cutting. It’s such a good shoe, it’s just the threading has come out. The shoe itself is still good. So I’m like, shoot, they’re expensive to buy because they don’t make ’em anymore. So, gotta make ’em last as long as I can.”
The model is the Nike G.T. Cut 1. The brand is currently on model 4.
Green said he’s been wearing his current pair since the preseason.
“I haven’t worn ’em every game, but they’ve lasted all season,” he said. “It’s a quality shoe.”
AJ Green record watch
Heading into the game against Brooklyn, AJ Green is No. 4 for most made 3-pointers in a season with 216. He trails only Damian Lillard (220), Malik Beasley (224) and record-holder Ray Allen (229).
With two games to play, he knows knocking down 14 will be tough, but Green has made seven in a game on three different occasions in his career.
What time is the Bucks game?
Fan appreciation night is set to begin at 7 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Wesley Matthews and Melanie Ricks on the call. Matthews will finish out the season by joining Byington in Philadelphia as well on April 10.
Milwaukee Bucks injury report
Bucks probable starting lineup
Bucks vs. Nets odds
Milwaukee is a 10.5-point favorite over Brooklyn with the over/under set at 217.5 points, per BetMGM.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: AJ Green’s record night helps Bucks close home slate with a victory
Reporting by Jim Owczarski and Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
