Bucks big man Bobby Portis returned from his 25-game suspension on Tuesday and made a statement. He recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench, helping lift Milwaukee to a win over the Timberwolves.
“My only goal is to get to June,” Portis said, per ESPN. “How can we get to June? We haven’t been there in so long.”
Minnesota led Milwaukee by 24 points in the fourth quarter, but behind a key steal, block and three, Portis helped spark the comeback. Bucks fans were chanting his name by the end of the game.
“My first year playing for the Bucks in the 2020/21 season, when I first started getting the chants, it was like chills, right?” Portis said. “I ain’t had the chills since that moment, but now tonight, I felt it all over again. It was a very surreal moment for me.”
The Bucks are fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, and Portis’s contributions helped get the team to five straight wins.
“Sometimes when you’re suspended, you might not feel you’re a part of it,” Portis said. “There wasn’t one day I was suspended that I didn’t feel like I was part of the team. I felt like I was still here. I just couldn’t play.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- Thursday’s game between Detroit and New York might be a preview of a first-round playoff series involving the two teams, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press notes. Two iconic Pistons victories this season game against New York — in December, Cade Cunningham became the first Piston to record a triple-double in Madison Square Garden since the current arena opened in 1968, and in January, he scored 36 points against the Knicks. “I think it’s fun,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “I think it’s an opportunity for both teams to go out and send a message.“
- The Bulls bolstered their chances of hosting a play-in game when they defeated Miami on Wednesday, Brian Sandalow of the Chicago Sun-Times notes. The win put the Bulls a game ahead of the Heat for ninth in the Eastern Conference standings and Chicago owns the tiebreaker between the two teams. If Chicago defeats the Wizards on Friday or Sixers on Sunday, the club would clinch home-court advantage for the No. 9 vs. 10 play-in game (assuming the Bulls don’t move up to No. 8). “We knew coming into the game the implications that a win or a loss had,” Josh Giddey said.
- Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said Jarrett Allen made it a goal to play 82 games, which would be the first time that’s occurred in his career. According to Dustin Dopirak of IndyStar (Twitter link), the Cavaliers plan to respect that goal while managing the center’s minutes accordingly. Allen is the only Cavs starter who suited up on Thursday.
If only the Bulls got rid of Lavine earlier…think they would be a higher seed…. hopefully can make it out of play in…
I was at the game on Wednesday with my colleagues from work. The UC is still the best and most and passionate NBA fans in the league. Watching this roster up close got me really angry though. I saw Patrick Williams up close and personal and he refused to literally cut or move without the basketball. If you ever played basketball in your gym class and you have the kid who is the last pick when selecting teams and he just stands there and gives ZERO effort on offense and isn’t communicating on defense, that is the definition of what the Bulls have with Patrick Williams. He simply isn’t a good NBA player. Kevin Huerter gave more effort on offense and defense than Patrick Williams got while making 1/5th of what Williams makes. Looking at Buzelis up close as well, he is not the franchise altering star, but this fanbase is so desperate to anoint anyone and it lacks attracting stars, so we made Buzelis the next great hope for this team. At best, he is the 2nd best player on a team 5 years from now. I’ves seen him get pushed around on screens and simple dribble hand offs to him. He needs to get stronger but the skill set is there. He made a clutch 3 late in the game when Miami was within 5 points to end their hopes. Defensively this team is horrendous, they let Herro go anywhere with his dribble and had problem switching with Ware on the P&R. We need more athleticism in the draft and offseason. The lack of skilled players at the wing (Terry, Williams, Phillips), really hurts our depth and that is when teams make their run against us. Overall I give their effort an A because it was an entertaining game and they played focused and determined, but this roster is still so bad that it makes it even worse knowing they’ll likely draft Jace Richardson instead of a guy like Liam McNeeley who would help with their shooting and size at the wing spot.
Patrick is what they made him. Thats the Bulls offense. They want him sitting on one side. PW is not a great offensive player. Imo he can be a solid 2way guy. Basketball gods are giod to him they will get him out of UC.
And just so you know. I’ve been saying this since his rookie year.
I can CLEARLY see that you never watched an entire Bulls game with Patrick Williams on the court unless it’s involving the Knicks. Blaming the team for a guy who can’t even dribble a basketball, who makes the weakest passes on screens, who does not communicate is CLEARLY the franchise and coaching staff’s fault right???
You can clearly not see. First I watch 95% of Knick gns every year. Then I watch what I can and flip around to see what I want. Like watching a player like Williams. To see why he gets the flak. Or just to scout players or games. Please don’t assume about me. I’m not like anyone here. I speak about what I see and have thought about it. I don’t spout. I have the capacity to do what I do.
Highlights on NBATV don’t count as “see what I want”.
Next time stick to your own team instead of worrying about mine and who I cannot stand.
I DGAF you like or don’t. I disagree with your assessment of Willians. And cause you take it personal. You got your panties in a wad. Then you want to accuyme of what I watch. Disagreeing doesn’t have to be confrontational. Only the weak and uninformed go there. So go away and root for the okay in. Or like most Bulls fans on gere. Cry and rag on your team …..
LOL dude comes at me and says i know ball bc i have an opinion of a guy who i cannot stand on my own team. You were the one who insulted my intelligence I never said anything negative to you. I’m sorry I expect perfection from my team instead of mediocrity like yourself…”derozan to the knicks for 3 years in here”. You want to bring bulls fans into this? Seriously?
1973 and counting.
Cade is big time man. He’s got serious game. Pistons should do right by him. Start by getting CJ next year. Probably can get him at draft and cheap.
Pistons will give Knicks trouble.Pistons have played better against Knicks. Knicks have enough to beat them. Just stay focused on the game. Pistons are definitely growing up. Can’t mess around.
Bulls play no D. They give up most pts in the paint. Billy has adopted Kerrs offense. And just outscore the other team. I guess he missed the part. When GS got Jimmy. They started playing D and winning. Bulls are run and shoot. As a lo of teams do today. That doesn’t win in playoffs or contested gms. Cause there you have to make stops.
I doubt it happes. Bulls would be blessed to get Queen in draft.
Pistons are much deeper than the Knicks. Cade has been unstoppable against them. I don’t see NYK winning a playoff series against them.
Any real Bulls fan who thinks its all on P Williams. Is not a true fan. If you don’t believe that. Then you should find another sport. Any adult learns in life there are two sides to a conflict. Only geniuses apply blame. Specifically in sports where you get influenced by media. And the trend you run with.
We call that “Bandwagon”. Anyone who can think on their own. Has to see PW has talent. Or you don’t know what to watch. Cause even the Bulls think that. Otherwise they wouldn’t have signed him. Doesnt mean they are helping him. Players adjust to the team. Or the team adjusts to the player. As a 19 yr old. The franchise has a responsibility to make him the best he can be. Bulls have always wanted Willians to help them ……. You ever been 19.
Williams has the potential to be an OG type player. Said this his rookie yr. He needed a year in G-league first. Bulls have been a bad team all his years there. Yet he is expected to save them. Teams can damage a pkayers devu. Just like they can help it. So lets bkame the 20-24 yr okd. Right raz …….. thats your mojo right. Half the freakin L is like Patricj right …….
You legit have lost your mind defending Patrick Williams. My goodness. I am done with this agenda from you. You must be a relative or something, even Helen Keller can see how awful of a player he is and will be. He belongs on your team for the rest of his life after the amount of nonsense you have been spewing about him all season long. Get a clue and watch some real basketball instead of highlights on NBATV/ESPN and MSG Networks. Good grief.
Why would I defend him. Im speaking the truth. My truth. I dont need Bulls or Knicks ir espn to tell me that. I don’t watch espn. Haven’t for yrs. Thats your god. I only watch the pkg.
the day you learn ball. Is the day you will grow up.
Just like your genius statement. Half the L are 24 yr olds who are still finding their games. Talk about a statement. Who watches ball who thinks that. I have forgotten more ball than you want to learn.
Please explain why Williams is so bad ——— try
Dude I just LITERALLY told you what I saw from Wednesday’s game in person in my ORIGINAL post. Learn to comprehend before using your thoughts on here.
“I saw Patrick Williams up close and personal and he refused to literally cut or move without the basketball. If you ever played basketball in your gym class and you have the kid who is the last pick when selecting teams and he just stands there and gives ZERO effort on offense and isn’t communicating on defense, that is the definition of what the Bulls have with Patrick Williams. He simply isn’t a good NBA player. Kevin Huerter gave more effort on offense and defense than Patrick Williams got while making 1/5th of what Williams makes.”