The Washington Wizards allowing 150 points to the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks is not unfathomable. Doing so while the Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo is remarkable to say the least.
However, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise, as the Wizards’ defense is horrible. Historically horrible. Tuesday, they allowed 88 points in the first half. Again, Milwaukee was without Antetokounmpo.
Khris Middleton took over the scoring for the Bucks, dropping a career-high 51 points on 16-of-26 shooting from the field.
Coupled with Sunday’s loss at Atlanta, the Wizards became the first team to allow 150 points in back-to-back games since the Denver Nuggets did so three decades ago.
There have been six teams to score 150 or more points this season and the Wizards was the opponent in four of those instances. And the 158 points Houston allowed was by the Wizards, who still lost the game allowing 159 to the Rockets.
Washington allows an NBA-worst 121.7 points per game. Entering the night Wizards’ opponents shot 49% from the field against them. The Bucks shot 55.6%.
Middleton and the Bucks’ ability to score seemingly at will overshadowed Bradley Beal’s season-high 47 points. And that’s been the theme of the Wizards’ season. They can score with the best of them — tied with the LA Clippers for fourth in points in the NBA. However, their lack of defense has built a reputation that mimics those historically bad Nuggets teams.
