Golden State Warriors vs Milwaukee Bucks – Season 2025 Recap: A 120-110 Revenge Win at Fiserv Forum
Introduction
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| Clash between Golden StateWarriors and Milwaukee Bucks |
In a high-stakes early-season matchup, the Milwaukee Bucks edged out the Golden State Warriors 120-110 at the Fiserv Forum, rewinding a narrative of revenge and proving depth can trump star power—even without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup. ESPN.com+2CBS Sports+2
Attendance at the arena was listed at 17,341, and the game tipped off at 8:00 p.m. local time (Central US), primed for latenight viewing in East Africa (~2:00 a.m. EAT) and significant social-buzz for content creators and sports media.
First Half: Bucks Jump Out With Early Momentum
The first quarter saw Milwaukee explode out of the gate, opening with a 10-0 run that set the tone. Rollins, playing with extra motivation against his former team, drained a three-pointer early and had 11 first-quarter points. Brew Hoop+1
Despite Golden State rallying into the second quarter—led by Stephen Curry who finished with 27 points—the Warriors couldn’t quite claw into control. The Bucks ended Q1 up 34-25 and maintained a slim lead at halftime (60-58). Ball movement, interior passing by Milwaukee (led by Myles Turner) and sticky defence on perimeter shots defined the half.
The Warriors’ issue: they out-shot the Bucks in terms of attempt volume but too often settled for lower-percentage looks or relaxed in transition defence. For Kenyan fantasy players, Curry’s 27 points may stand out—but the efficiency (8-of-19 FG, 4-of-10 from three) hinted at trouble. Golden State Of Mind+1
Second Half: Closing Run Unlocks the Result
Milwaukee controlled much of the third quarter, building a 10-point cushion heading into the final stretch. They managed to maintain spacing, limit turnovers and force Golden State into stagnant sets.
Mid-fourth quarter, the Warriors reduced the margin to 106-104 with 4:03 left on a Curry three. But the Bucks responded immediately with a decisive 11-2 run, capped by Rollins hitting a three with 25 seconds remaining to seal the outcome. ESPN.com+1
Turner added 17 points and strong defensive presence; the bench outscored Golden State’s reserves 38-29—an indicator that depth mattered more than star absence (Giannis) on this night. CBS Sports
For the Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga posted 24 points on 82.6 % true-shooting (7-of-11 FG, 8-of-8 FT) but his 5 turnovers were costly in crunch time. Golden State Of Mind
Key Player Performances & Turning Points
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Ryan Rollins (Bucks): Career-high 32 points (13-of-21 FG, 5-of-7 from 3-PT) plus 8 assists. A breakout performance against his former club. CBS Sports+1
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Stephen Curry (Warriors): 27 points, but struggled from deep and missed from the line (ending his 57-game free-throw streak). ESPN.com
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Myles Turner (Bucks): Efficient inside presence, 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting; helped anchor the bench. CBS Sports
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Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors): 24 points, strong efficiency, but turnovers and defensive lapses stood out. Golden State Of Mind
Turning points:
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Bucks’ 10-0 run early on to set tone.
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Warriors’ temporary run to cut deficit, only for Bucks to immediately answer.
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Depth battle: Bucks bench out-performed Warriors bench 38-29 in key minutes.
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Curry’s free-throw miss with 4:52 remaining signalled shift in momentum. ESPN.com
What This Means
For the Bucks:
This win is huge for confidence and playoff-seeding resume—even without Giannis. It proves Milwaukee can win on balance, bench production and role-players stepping up. T
For the Warriors:
The loss is a reality check. Star power alone (Curry) wasn’t enough—they need more cohesion, better bench contributions and tighter defence.
Tactical Takeaways
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Bench production wins nights. Milwaukee’s depth outscored G.S. reserve units by 9 points — sign of winning culture.
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Star absence ≠ weakness. Giannis out, Bucks still win—shows roster construction matters.
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Clutch execution: When Warriors cut deficit, Bucks answered immediately—shows champions convert in pressure moments.
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Turnover vulnerability: Warriors had momentum but turnovers and missed free throws cost them critical points.
Conclusion
The Warriors vs Bucks matchup lived up to the hype: 120-110 final, bench heroics, star showdowns and playoff-level intensity well before the holiday stretch. The Bucks showed depth, resilience and a readiness to contend even without their superstar. The Warriors were competitive but lacked finishing and bench spark.