Milwaukee Bucks needed a win. They needed one badly. Things looked bleak at halftime as Denver Nuggets led 70-53. But Bucks would battle back yet the comeback would fall short with the team falling for the 10th time in the last 11 games. Once again in this terrible losing streak, it’s been one quarter that’s buried Bucks. They came back and showed a little more spirit than what we’ve seen in the past couple games. Maybe, it’s a sign of things to come or maybe I’m a hopeless optimist.

Player of the Game: Jabari Parker (Bucks) – Jabari’s second half was one of his best of the year. He seemingly broke out of his funk and started to dominate this basketball game. Denver had no answer for him. The most important thing is Parker looked like he was having fun out there which is something we haven’t been able to say for the last few weeks.

(Not) Player of the Game: Tony Snell (Bucks) – As a starter, Tony Snell needs to do more than just three shots in 19 minutes. Snell didn’t do much on the court. I do think he’s going to be a different player when working with the second unit in the coming weeks. Snell is one of the many Bucks players who could use a switch-up.

Player of the Game: Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) – I hope Bucks could avoid the return of Nikola Jokic who was out with a hip injury for the last two weeks. This didn’t end up being the case. Jokic came back to drop a triple-double in his first game back with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. That’s a hell of a night for him. He looked very fluid in his first game back. Jokic is going to be a star in this league.

Positive: Giannis and Jabari got going together – This is me grasping for straws, but Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker finally got going as a unit last night. It’s only the third time during this losing streak where these two had more than 20 points. They haven’t been in sync really at all, and it seems like things are getting back to where they were in December. Hopefully, they can bring the defense too.

Negative: Horrid officiating – Hate to blame the refs, but they really played a part in Milwaukee’s defeat. How on earth does a team have 19 more free throw attempts than the other one? Bucks aren’t like Houston where they’re just firing from three. There needs to be more consistency with the officials.

Next up: Bucks have a chance to at least get one on this road trip against Phoenix Suns. Bucks have won three of their last four against Phoenix. They’ll be riding high after a buzzer-beater win last night in Sacramento. Given their struggles with the corner three, Devin Booker