MILWAUKEE — The Warriors were slapped with five technical fouls in their disappointing 128-111 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on a night when nothing seemed to go right for the reigning champs.
The Warriors felt like the calls weren’t coming their way Tuesday. Jordan Poole was assessed a technical foul in the first quarter after making a contested layup. Then, later in the opening frame, Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr were slapped with techs of their own furiously arguing a non-call on a made Curry 3.
In the third quarter, Andre Iguodala, who still hasn’t played a game this season, received a technical foul arguing with an official during an official review. Jonathan Kuminga picked up a tech early in the fourth after notching his fifth personal foul on the night.
But missed calls surely couldn’t be the only thing the Warriors should be frustrated with in their disappointing loss to the Bucks.
Transition and interior defense were both problems for the Warriors, who were already at a size disadvantage against the Bucks. Milwaukee bullies Golden State in the paint, scoring 48 points there to Golden State’s 30. The Bucks went 33-for-53 inside the arc (62.2%) while the Warriors, who made 20 triples, made only 18 of their 45 two-point attempts.
Milwaukee also outrebounded Golden State 55-37.
The Warriors pulled within six of the Bucks in the second quarter, but that was the closest they would get. The Bucks jumped out to a 26-point lead midway through the third.
At one point, Draymond Green ushered an official down the court while pointing in the direction of the baseline seats. A fan was escorted out of the game by security.
With the game out of reach, Kerr pulled his starters. Patrick Baldwin Jr., who played last season at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, checked in at the 8:14 mark to play in front of 50 or so family and friends. He made two 3-pointers and finished with six points.
While Jordan Poole seemed poised for a big night in front of his hometown crowd, sinking his first 3 of the game, the fourth-year guard ultimately fell flat. He finished with 18 points on 6 of 17 shooting, making only three of his 10 3-point attempts. He had three assists and four turnovers.
Curry led the Warriors with 20 points, and Kuminga added 19 points and three 3s off the bench.
Meanwhile, the Bucks were led by Antetokoumpo, who had 30 points and 12 rebounds. Khris Middleton added 20 points and Bobby Portis contributed 25 off the bench.
The Warriors road problems continue as they fall 2-12 on the season away from Chase Center and 14-14 overall. They face a grueling stretch where they have five more road games over eight days. That continues Wednesday in Indianapolis.
