Bucks Vs Pelicans: Game Recap — Bucks 139, Pelicans 118 as Rollins Sparks Big Win
The Bucks Vs Pelicans matchup ended with the Bucks defeating the Pelicans, 139-118. The win moved the Bucks to 24-30 while the Pelicans fell to 15-42. The game featured a standout offensive outburst, notable shooting efficiency, and several individual scoring bursts that tilted the contest decisively.
Bucks Vs Pelicans: Rollins leads a balanced barrage
Ryan Rollins spearheaded the visitors' attack with 27 points, hitting a career-high seven three-pointers while adding six assists, four steals and two blocks. Kevin Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas combined for 52 points, supplying sustained scoring behind Rollins. Zion Williamson paced the Pelicans with 32 points on 13-of-17 shooting.
- Top individual lines: Ryan Rollins — 27 points, seven threes, 6 ast, 4 stl, 2 blk; Zion Williamson — 32 points on 13/17 shooting; Cam Thomas — finished with 27 points after a massive second-quarter run.
- Shooting: The Bucks rank fifth in the league at 48. 1% season shooting and shot 59. 8% in this game.
- Team result impact: Bucks improved to 24-30; Pelicans dropped to 15-42.
Game flow and decisive stretches
The game opened with the Pelicans getting easy looks at the rim, but Rollins answered with contested long-range makes to keep the score even at 10 apiece early. Milwaukee then produced a 5-0 run that included back-to-back reverse finishes by Kyle Kuzma and a Bobby Portis putback slam, pushing the Bucks ahead at one point.
New Orleans countered with a 7-0 run highlighted by a long three from Jordan Poole, and the Pelicans closed the first period leading 38-33 after strong finishing from Zion Williamson.
Cam Thomas, scoreless in the opening frame, swung momentum in the second by hitting a three and converting an and-one to reclaim the lead for Milwaukee. Zion reclaimed the advantage soon after, but Thomas proceeded to score 16 straight points for the Bucks in under six minutes. The visitors led 71-65 at the break.
In the third quarter, Milwaukee continued to match New Orleans' scoring pace while Rollins made impact plays on both ends, finishing the period with four steals and two blocks and putting the Bucks up 103-96 after three.
The fourth quarter opened with Thomas adding a few buckets to reach 27 for the night. A corner three and a tough layup from Pate Nance forced a timeout, with the visitors leading 113-104 with under eight minutes remaining. The Bucks then went on a 7-2 run to stretch the margin further; Kevin Porter Jr. remained a consistent scoring threat down the stretch and Milwaukee closed out the game to win 139-118.
Takeaways and short-term context
- Milwaukee's offense peaked at 59. 8% shooting for the game, well above their season mark of 48. 1%.
- Individual bursts mattered: Cam Thomas' 16-point streak in the second and Rollins' two-way night were decisive.
- Milestone notes from the contest: the Bucks finished a perfect home stand with a 3-0 record, recorded both games of a back-to-back as wins for the first time this season, and ended a five-game losing streak against a short-handed opponent.
Recent updates indicate these are the principal facts from the matchup; details may evolve as additional box-score summaries are compiled.
