Bucks' defense a problem again in home loss to Jazz

The Milwaukee Bucks came back home after experiencing some turbulence on their 1-2 road trip.

Things got bumpier on Monday night at Fiserv Forum when the Bucks fell into a massive early hole and couldn't climb out of it in a 132-116 loss to the Utah Jazz.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double with 25 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for the Bucks (25-12), who have won just one of their last five games.

Box score: Jazz 132, Bucks 116

The loss to the Jazz (18-20) came in the first of four straight home games for the Bucks.

Milwaukee will also play the Boston Celtics on Thursday, the Golden State Warriors on Saturday and the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Fans at Fiserv Forum were agitated that the Bucks fell behind by 33 points in the first half, with boos directed toward the team.

"At the end of the day, you got to play hard," Antetokounmpo said. "I don't think it's about making or missing shots. It's about giving effort out there.

"When you don't, I think people feel that. When you wear a Bucks jersey, not just a Bucks jersey, any jersey, and you don't play hard, I think we have great fans, but around the league if you don't play hard, there's times you might get booed. (Expletive), I would have booed myself tonight."

Jazz shred Bucks' defense for 11 three-pointers in first quarter

After Antetokounmpo called for more "pride" in the team's defense, the Bucks again fell into an early hole.

The Jazz shot a scorching 11 for 17 on three-pointers in the first quarter to take a 41-23 lead.

"I think it was just the way they were getting their points," Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said. "A lot of it was just uncontested threes where we're not into their body. Not physical enough with their screening and our switches.

"At halftime, I probably showed more clips than I usually show. Just areas where we can respond. Sometimes as a coach, you know, you can come in and go bonkers. But I also believe you have to show them the areas you have to improve on. And they responded."

Jazz scores 77 points in first half vs. Bucks

By that point, Utah had kept rolling and went into the locker room with a 77-46 advantage.

The Jazz had five players score in double figures in the first half: Kelly Olynyk (10), Collin Sexton (11), Lauri Markkanen (11), Jason Collins (12) and Jordan Clarkson (12).

Antetokounmpo was the only player in double figures for the Bucks with 11 points. Khris Middleton had just six points on 2-for-10 shooting.

The frustration was evident after the game.

"Very frustrating, for sure," Middleton said. "Just hoped we'd come out and respond a little bit better. But tonight we didn't."

Bucks show some fight in second half with Chris Livingston getting playing time

The Bucks came out of the locker room with purpose, ripping off a 7-0 run to start the third quarter and prompting a timeout from Jazz coach Will Hardy.

Milwaukee kept chipping away at the big deficit. Griffin even inserted little-used rookie Chris Livingston, and his layup cut the lead to 93-80 with 3:37 left in the third quarter. He hit another layup a minute later.

"I've been intrigued with his size, with his athleticism," Griffin said. "He has great feel for the game. I thought he was tremendous, throwing him in, in a game like that, man, he played extremely hard.

"He can defend. He can rebound. He can finish around the basket."

Bobby Portis got the Bucks within single digits when his turnaround jumper made it 97-88.

But Portis missed a jumper with seven seconds left, and Keyonte George raced the other way for a layup that gave the Jazz a 100-90 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo frustrated again after loss

Milwaukee kept getting closer, cutting the deficit to seven points a few times in the fourth quarter.

Middleton's three-pointer made it 115-108 with 5:26 remaining. He bounced back from his cold start to finish with 23 points.

But the Jazz answered with a jumper from Kris Dunn and a three-pointer from Simone Fontecchio. Markannen hit a three-pointer with 3:08 left and fans in Fiserv Forum started heading for the exits.

"We knew we were not playing well," Griffin said. "We were not playing up to our standards.

"Like I said, at halftime, we showed them areas where you have to improve. They say film doesn't lie. But, again, we got really strong character individuals on this team. That care about winning. And it showed tonight.

"We easily could have thrown in the towel. Guys were great. Bobby gave us a lift off the bench tremendously. Everyone in the second half, I thought, we flipped it a little bit in terms of our energy and effort. We made it a ball game. But in the NBA, you just can't dig yourself a hole like that."

Antetokounmpo didn't want to take any comfort in a good second half.

"It's not just the defense," Antetokounmpo said. "It's everything overall. Offense, defense, every little thing matters.

"That's how you build a winning culture. If you just worry about the outcome every single game, you just expect to be on the winning side at the end of the game, it doesn't work that way.

"How many points did they score? 130? Got to get better, man."

Damian Lillard out vs. the Jazz

Damian Lillard was not in uniform for Monday's game.

On Sunday night, the Bucks listed Lillard as out for game for personal reasons.

Cameron Payne, Lillard's backup at point guard, also didn't play because he is in the concussion protocol. Payne left Saturday's loss to the Rockets after hitting his head on the court on a hard fall in the third quarter.

Rookie Andre Jackson started in Lillard's place.

Milwaukee Bucks injury report vs. Jazz

∎ Damian Lillard, out (personal reasons)

∎ Cameron Payne, out (concussion protocol)

∎ Jae Crowder, out (left adductor surgery)

Jae Crowder injury update: What to know about the Bucks forward's injury status

Bucks request waivers on Marques Bolden and Lindell Wigginton

The Bucks also announced on Monday that they were requesting waivers on two-way players Marques Bolden and Lindell Wigginton.

Both players bounced between the Bucks and the Wisconsin Herd, the franchise's G League affiliate.

Bolden appeared in two games with the Bucks, while Wigginton saw action in three.

NBA teams are allowed to have three players on two-way contracts. TyTy Washington is also on a two-way deal with the Bucks.

Five numbers

39 Career triple-doubles for Antetokounmpo, including four this season.

10 Games this season Malik Beasley has hit at least 5 three-pointers in a game, surpassing Brook Lopez (9, 2018-19) for second-most in a single season. Ray Allen holds the franchise record with 12 games of hitting five or more three-pointers in 2001-02.

6 points for Bucks rookie Chris Livingston in the third quarter. He had nine points in eight games coming into the night.

21.9% Three-point shooting for the Jazz in its previous two games.

1 Three-pointer for the Jazz in the third quarter after making 16 in the first half.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks lose to Utah Jazz 132-116 at Fiserv Forum