The Milwaukee Bucks were officially eliminated from the NBA Cup after a 107-99 road loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
The team has slumped to a 1-12 record after dropping their ninth consecutive match, according to Yahoo Sports.
During the defeat, Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the team with 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists in 28 minutes off the bench.
Other contributors included Tyler Herro, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, and Kel’el Ware, who added 18, 14, 14, and 10 points respectively.
Despite the overall team struggles, guard Ryan Rollins emerged as a bright spot for Milwaukee, as noted by Wisconsin Sports Heroics.
Rollins nearly recorded a double-double, finishing with eight points, 10 rebounds, and two assists while playing 29 minutes of defensive-minded basketball.
Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins lauded the Toledo product for his high-energy performance on both ends of the floor.
Jenkins explained that the coaching staff utilized Rollins for a super long stretch during the second half due to his immediate impact on the game.
“I thought Ryan was great,” the coach stated.
Jenkins added that the player was disruptive, rebounded the ball well, impacted drives, and took hits to make winning plays.
The head coach concluded his assessment by stating, “I wish we could knock down a few more shots, but I love the force he was playing on both sides.”
Rollins has frequently moved in and out of the starting lineup as Jenkins continues to search for a winning formula for the roster.
In recent outings, Rollins and Jaquez have taken on leadership roles for the second unit, an assignment that Rollins said he is fully embracing.
Reflecting on his role, Rollins noted that he believes his performance can still improve.
He expressed a desire to play better to increase the overall impact on the game for his team moving forward.