After the excitement of their NBA Cup win, the Milwaukee Bucks saw their momentum take a sharp dip. But the blow hit harder this month when the league handed down a 25-game suspension to Bobby Portis Jr. for testing positive for Tramadol, a painkiller that violates the league’s anti-d— policy. With Portis out of the picture, the Bucks were in need of someone to fill his role. Moreover, the trade deadline had already passed, leaving them scrambling for a solution. But now, that search is finally over.

The Bucks welcomed their new member Pete Nance on Thursday who will be switching between the NBA side and their G League affiliate, Wisconsin Herd. The 25-year-old has joined in the two-way contract with the team. To make room for the newbie, the Bucks have requested waivers on their two-way center, Liam Robbins.

Pete is the son of former Cavaliers star Larry Nance and the brother of Larry Nance Jr., who is currently with the Hawks. Unfortunately, Pete didn’t enter the league through the draft, he went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. But giving up was never an option for Pete.

He spent quite some time in the G League with the Cleveland Charge and had a two-way contract with the Cavs. The young forward even appeared in seven games for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, as well as for their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. Pete played 18 G League games with both teams, starting in 17 of them. During that stretch, he averaged 15.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. And now, Pete Nance has found his way to the Bucks.

With this issue now behind them, the Bucks have more reason to feel relieved as their star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, shared some positive thoughts on the team’s defense.

Giannis Antetokounmpo shares a strong message about Bucks defense

Taking on the Nuggets is never easy, but the Bucks pulled it off with a 121-112 win. A big shoutout goes to the defense, which really stepped up and kept the Western side from scoring their usual points. And the offense made sure to take full advantage of that.

After the victory, the media gathered around Giannis in the locker room to ask him about the Bucks’ defense. “I think it was great,” the 2x MVP said. Providing a deeper analysis of their game, he added, “In the second half, we were better. First half, we gave them like 20 points—fast breaks, one-pass layups, second-chance points. I feel like, coming out of the half, we better—show bodies, got back on defense, rebound the ball better, went out contested shot. Show crowd to every post-up that Niko (Nikola Jokic) went in. But I think, overall, we competed as a team.”

The Nuggets took a three-point lead before halftime, but the Bucks flipped the script in the second half, making it tough for the visiting team to cut into the deficit. They showcased their defensive strength which ultimately sealed the deal for them. And Giannis called it “a high-energy game.” Not only that he felt like “it was almost a playoff game.”

With their confidence back, all eyes will be on the Bucks to see if they can maintain their momentum and make a push for the championship. The goal is well within reach, as they’re currently sitting in the fifth seed in the East. Now, it’s all about staying focused and consistent. Do you think they can keep it up this time? Let us know in the comments below!