Bucks vs. Rockets score: Live updates as Milwaukee and Houston continue the NBA’s restart at Disney World

The Houston Rockets played arguably their worst defensive game of the season on Friday in allowing 149 points against the Dallas Mavericks, and an opponent just as threatening loomed on Sunday. Fortunately, the Rockets managed to figure out their defensive issues. They took down the Milwaukee Bucks, 119-116, behind 22 forced turnovers and 48 minutes of flawlessly executed switching. The Bucks shot only 9-of-35 from behind the arc in the game thanks to Houston’s incredible defense. 

The Bucks lost the game despite finishing with 29 more rebounds than the Rockets. Their frontcourt trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton scored 86 points and grabbed 42 rebounds, but nobody else could give the Bucks much of anything. Houston’s switching defense exists to take away 3-pointers, and Milwaukee’s role players went only 4-of-20 from behind the arc.  the

The Bucks will now have to wait a few days to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Rockets move up to No. 4 out West, only a game behind the No. 3 Nuggets. The moral victory is arguably as important as the actual one. The Rockets now know they can hang with the NBA’s best team. The Bucks were arguably their worst possible matchup, but it didn’t matter. Houston proved they could keep up with anyone in the league on Sunday.