Milwaukee, WI

Bucks vs. Magic: A Dame Dolla short

Published

10 months ago

March 9, 2025

The Milwaukee Bucks’ fourth-quarter comeback fell one shot short against the Orlando Magic, losing 111-109, after Damian Lillard’s game winning three hit the back iron. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dame combined for 63 points to lead the Bucks offense. Yet the combined effort of Paolo Banchero (29 points), Cole Anthony (22 points and nine assists), and Franz Wanger (18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists) was enough to push Orlando over the finish line. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast Bucks In Six Minutes below.

What Did We Learn?

If I’m the Milwaukee Bucks, I never want to see the Orlando Magic in a playoff series, this season or any other season. Despite being out their top guard in Jalen Suggs, the Magic continued to limit one of the Bucks’ biggest strengths on offense: the three-point shot. Of the seven games in which the Bucks have attempted their fewest three-pointers this season, four of those games (including the top three) have come against the Magic, with 23 on Saturday night.

“They just switch a lot and they’re big, the one game where we had 30 [three point attempts] was a blow out because we got good shots,” head coach Doc Rivers said. “I thought they were so much more physical tonight, I thought the first game here early in the year I thought they were way more physical than us, they were more physical in three of the four games.”

Beyond their physicality, Giannis credits the Magic’s ability to be versatile enough to switch on the perimeter to limit the Bucks’ three-point shots.

“They switch everything and when you play against a team that switches everything it’s hard,” Giannis said. “You gotta have the mindest of driving and kicking it, but sometimes we have very talented players that take that individual challenge to take it themselves and sometimes the ball doesn’t move as much and it sticks. When you play against a team that switches you gotta keep it rolling hard.”

Thankfully the Bucks are done with the Magic for the rest of the regular season, and would only play them in the second round or the Eastern Conference Finals depending on where they finish in the play-in. I know that they won three out of the four games this season against Orlando, but a team like that can be dangerous when they can shoot the ball like they did in the first quarter last night. If they get a two-way scoring guard who can hit three’s at a high rate next to Suggs, the Magic are going to be a strong contender in the East.

Three Kevin Porter Jr. Plays

If they made statues for fleecing teams out of a good player for nothing, then GM Jon Horst should get one for acquiring Kevin Porter J. for nothing. After getting limited minutes with the Clippers, Porter has taken full advantage of the opportunity as the new backup point guard behind Dame. He’s scored 10+ points in four straight games, and he’s averaging 12.0 points per game over his last four contests compared to his 9.3 points per game overall this season. He was part of the closing lineup last night against Orlando and was part of the spark the comeback in the fourth quarter. Here are KPJ’s three best plays from Saturday night.

While they could never compare to the Khris-to-Giannis lobs, the KPJ-to-Giannis ones are pretty good.

I know I’m not the only one who will miss seeing Khris Middleton throw lobs to Giannis, but in his short time here, KPJ is racking up quite the collection of outstanding lob passes to a lot of players, but Giannis in particular. With the Bucks on the comeback trail, Porter runs a P&R with Giannis and since Goga Bitdaze is in for the Magic, they’re going to run some form of drop-coverage. With Tristan Da Silva not providing much help and no one else rotating over, Porter throws a beautiful lob pass to Giannis for the slam. This was part of a big run for the Bucks to get them within striking distance and make a full comeback attempt.

His ability to stop on a dime to hit mid-range shots on one foot is something I’ve never seen before.

I know there are plenty of guys in the league who can stop on a dime and make tough shots, but the way in which Porter does it is so unconventional to me. On this play, he drives in on Anthony Black, stops with one foot and drags the other to make an awkward looking shot, but hey, it went in.

Out of everyone, he got the Bucks going from beyond-the-arc last night.

It was polar opposites from three point range between the Bucks and Magic in the first quarter. Orlando came in as the worst three point shooting team in the league, but managed to shoot a scorching 8/13 from beyond the arc in the first, while Milwaukee shot 0/5. Then in the second quarter, only one player even attempted a three for the Bucks, and it was Porter, who went 2/2. He does have history as a good three-point shooter, but the reason I say that I’m a bit surprised is because since he left Houston, he’s barely attempted any threes and hasn’t necessarily been good at them. Yet it seems now like he’s building confidence in it again, especially by taking a transition three after a stop on defense. He’s becoming more and more valuable each game, and that may price him out for the Bucks next season. But for now, let’s enjoy his exploits on the court while we still can,

Bonus Bucks Bits

Giannis finished the night just three points shy of joining the top 50 scorers in NBA history (20,047). He did pass Antwan Jamison (20,042) last night after his 37-point outing. He’ll have his chance to quickly move into the top 50 tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Here was Dame’s take on the last possession against Orlando:

“Every time you look back at it you’re like ‘I could’ve did this, I should’ve done this,’ once I got it in space I made up my mind I was going for the win. I got space, I just lost my balance, I got deeper than I wanted to and I was just trying to get it and go downhill and get back behind the line, but when I got back behind the line I was kinda fighting against my body more than I would have liked to, I just got off balance and that was it.”

Taurean Prince scored nine of his 13 points tonight in the fourth quarter, tying the second most he’s scored in a single quarter this season. His three triples in the final frame also tied his season-high in a single quarter and matched the second most he’s made in a quarter in his career.
Dame has now scored 25+ points in 31 games this season, the 10th-most in the NBA, and he’s one of just 11 players to have at least 30 games with 25+ points.

Up Next

The Milwaukee Bucks will play their second back-to-back game tonight against the Eastern Conference’s number one team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. You can catch the game starting at 7:00 p.m. (Central) on ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, or our Playback and YouTube channels.

Source link

Related Topics:beating brew Bucks bucks-recap-takeaways-analysis Featured from front page game hoop magic Milwaukee orlando review takeaways vs.

Click to comment

Milwaukee, WI

Behind Milwaukee’s recent restaurant closures

Published

20 minutes ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Behind Milwaukee’s recent restaurant closures

Milwaukee’s dining community is grappling with a recent string of restaurant closures that includes longtime neighborhood fixtures and newer concepts. The losses have sparked disappointment among diners and raised broader questions about why even popular locations and prime riverfront spots are struggling to survive.

On Milwaukee’s Lori Fredrich told WTMJ’s Adam Roberts that restaurant owners are increasingly speaking candidly about the realities of running a business, using social media to share financial pressures and warn customers when closure may be imminent. The shift marks a departure from past practices, when restaurants often closed quietly without explanation.

With January and February historically among the toughest months for restaurants, local leaders are urging residents to buy local. Programs like Visit Milwaukee’s Buy Local Bonus aim to provide short-term relief, but many in the industry worry about what the year ahead may bring.

Hear more about this story on WTMJ’s Reporter’s Notebook, on Sundays at 10 am or wherever you get your podcasts.

Source link

Milwaukee, WI

‘We’re still struggling’: Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches

Published

12 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

‘We’re still struggling’: Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches

MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin has confirmed a new 24-hour rainfall record after more than a foot of rain fell in Milwaukee during historic summer flooding, but for some families like Victoria Kiepert’s, the damage never ended.

The August 9th and 10th storms brought 14-and-a-half inches of rain to northwest Milwaukee in just 24 hours, now officially the most rain ever recorded in a single day in Wisconsin. Behind that historic number are families still trying to rebuild as Christmas approaches.

“We lost all of our stuff in the basement,” Kiepert said.

TMJ4

Victoria Kiepert lost everything in the floods in August.

Floodwaters damaged Kiepert’s northside home, destroying nearly everything her family owned. She applied for help, but says months later, recovery is still falling on her shoulders.

“Beds, appliances, all that stuff, kids’ clothes, TVs, everything,” Kiepert said.

The Milwaukee mother, who cares for five children, says her family was left homeless for two weeks after the flooding.

Victoria Kiepert cares for five people in her home, she says she needs beds, clothing and dressers for her kids. — Victoria cares for five people in her home, she says she needs beds, clothing and dressers for her kids.

“We had to move, and I couldn’t find a house right away, so we were homeless for two weeks, and then we moved and still don’t have the things we need,” Kiepert said.

Watch: Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches

Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches

Climate experts say the storms were unprecedented, with rain falling one to three inches an hour for several hours, overwhelming basements, streets, and sewer systems. Radar estimates show 10 to 12 inches fell across northern Milwaukee and northeast Waukesha counties, confirming the devastation was widespread.

Kiepert says she and her kids have to sleep on air mattresses, and the holidays only add more pressure to an already overwhelming situation.

“People think that after people get FEMA money, it’s just done and over with, and that should be enough, but it’s really not because it takes months, even years, sometimes when you’re starting all over,” Kiepert said.

She’s unsure how she will provide gifts for her kids this Christmas, her family still needs basic necessities months after the flooding.

Victoria's family is hoping for a Christmas miracle. — Victoria Kiepert’s family is hoping for a Christmas miracle.

“We still need beds, dressers, kids’ clothing, a lot of stuff,” Kiepert said.

As Wisconsin marks a new chapter in climate history, families like Kiepert’s say recovery can’t stop at statistics, especially as Christmas approaches.

“This year’s really hard, because mostly because of the flood, cause all the stuff we lost, I have to buy them new stuff, because that money isn’t available for Christmas,” Kiepert said.

The flooding has made this Christmas particularly challenging for Kiepert’s family, including her youngest daughter experiencing her first Christmas.

“This is my daughter’s first Christmas, it would help for all my kids but mainly for her, to make like a Christmas miracle for them,” Kiepert said.

Despite the hardships, Kiepert maintains perspective on what matters most during the holidays.

“Sometimes it’s not about the gifts, it’s about being stable and having family around,” Kiepert said.

As Victoria’s family continues to rebuild, community support can make a real difference. A GoFundMe is available for those who wish to donate money or provide much-needed household items. If you can donate any of the furniture items she seeks, her email is Victoria.kiepert@icloud.com, or you can reach out to me by email at gideon.verdin@tmj4.com, and I will connect you with Victoria.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Let’s talk:

Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.

It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.

Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.

Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip

Source link

Milwaukee, WI

Tips for Milwaukee Mitchell holiday travelers: Don’t bring wrapped gifts

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Tips for Milwaukee Mitchell holiday travelers: Don’t bring wrapped gifts

Security officials at Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport offered advice for passengers navigating the busy holiday travel season this December.

Tim Goodman, Wisconsin assistant federal security director at the Transportation Security Administration, said Dec. 19 that the agency is prepared for high passenger volume at Milwaukee Mitchell in the next two weeks.

Goodman said the airport expects to process as many as 12,000 travelers during the busiest holiday travel days. These dates are projected to see the most traffic:

Sunday, Dec. 21
Monday, Dec. 22
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Sunday, Dec. 28
Monday, Dec. 29
Tuesday, Dec. 30

Here’s what to know about holiday travel at Milwaukee Mitchell this year:

Arrive early, especially for morning flights from Mitchell Airport

Goodman recommended travelers arrive no later than 90 minutes before their flight takes off, and longer if they’re boarding early morning flights.

Mornings are the busiest time of day for the airport, Goodman said.

“We are at capacity at the early morning hours,” he said. “We may see as many as 2,000 passengers going out before 7 a.m. on our busiest days.”

Don’t forget your Real ID when traveling through Mitchell

This is also the first winter holiday season after TSA began enforcing Real ID requirements for domestic flights. Starting on May 7, 2025, all domestic passengers must present a Real ID-compliant drivers license or other other acceptable forms of identification.

Earlier this month, TSA announced it will charge passengers $45 if they do not present a Real ID or other accepted identification starting Feb. 1, 2026.

In Wisconsin, Real ID-compliant drivers licenses are marked with a star in the upper right corner. More information about how to obtain a Real ID is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s website.

Goodman said 97% of Wisconsin passengers already have a Real ID. Those who don’t have proper identification will see longer waits and additional screening at security checkpoints.

A list of acceptable identification is available on TSA’s website.

Some holiday items may not get through security at Mitchell

Goodman said some common holiday items should not be put in carry-on bags since security officials struggle to open and inspect them.

Those items include snow globes and wrapped gifts. Goodman recommended any gifts instead be put in a gift bag.

Goodman also said passengers should completely empty bags before packing them for a flight. It’s common for travelers to forget to remove prohibited items in their bag, only to find themselves stopped at security checkpoints.