Milwaukee, WI

Bucks vs. Nets: Bucks bench begets big boost

Published

12 months ago

December 9, 2024

Bucks vs. Nets: Bucks bench begets big boost

It won’t go down as the prettiest outing on the part of the Milwaukee Bucks, but they were able to wring just enough out of the entire rotation to topple the Brooklyn Nets on the road, 118-113. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 34 points (on 14-22 and 6-10 from the line), 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, and it was the scoring of Bobby Portis (23 points on 9-10 and a perfect 5-5 from distance) and Gary Trent Jr. (20 points on 6-10 and 3-7 from three) that kept the Bucks within touching distance. A final five minute small-ball lineup featuring Damian Lillard, Andre Jackson Jr., Khris Middleton, Portis, and Antetokounmpo would finally bring Brooklyn’s tough shot making to a halt; much-improved offensive execution took them home from there.

Read our full summary of the game here!

What Did We Learn?

We decisively learned that the Bucks are now capable of fielding actual small-ball lineups now that Khris Middleton is back. In the recent loss to the Boston Celtics the Bucks struggled to cohere into a smaller group with Giannis at center that could stop the defensive bleeding against an excellent three-point shooting squad. A large part of the issue was the absence of Taurean Prince who gave it a go with illness, but could only log nine minutes. Bobby stepped into that gap to little avail. He just isn’t the defender you need against a team with that kind of personnel.

Tonight, however, Bobby was a massive boost to the Giannis-at-center group coach Doc Rivers opted to go to with around five minutes left in the game. Brook Lopez was subbed off the floor by Antetokounmpo at the 8:02 mark and the last piece to complete the closing group was Jackson stepping onto the court with 4:22 left. After trading a few baskets to the tune of a 104-108 Nets lead with 3:08 left, Brooklyn would not register another point until Dorian Finney-Smith got a three to fall off a busted coverage. In total, that group I outlined above was responsible for forcing two turnovers and two blocks after spending the entire game struggling to sustain defensive pressure. Portis in particular was massive with two wide-open, step-into-it threes of title-run vintage while Giannis Antetokounmpo shied away from the battering ram strategy to set others up. Even on a relatively quiet night from Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton in terms of sheer scoring, the closing group executed at a high level.

That is all extremely promising news and exactly what Bucks fans have been hoping to see all season. There will be battles to earn a spot in Doc’s go-to closing group (Andre Jackson Jr. may battle Gary Trent Jr. who may battle Delon Wright while Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince will scrap for the four slot), but fresh off a disappointing close against the Celtics it was encouraging to see something quite the opposite out of this group.

Three Bench Bucks

Bobby Portis

Probably (surely?) his best performance of the season so far, and wouldn’t you know it? A large part of it had to do with his taking and actually making shots. An even larger part probably had to do with the fact that his 3PAr was a clean .500, a feat he has rarely reached this season. While his tough shot making in the first half was good news for a Bucks team needing help to tide over the non-Giannis minutes, it was his effortless threes late that ultimately broke Brooklyn’s back. Those shots were vintage Bobby. Pair that with a stretch of above-competent play defensively (he swatted away a Dennis Schröder jumper which turned into a game-sealing Giannis dunk) thanks to Nic Claxton’s inability to space the floor, and you’ve got Bobby rightfully taking a bow in this one.

Gary Trent Jr.

Another tough shot merchant for a Bucks team that needed them with the paucity of contributions from the rest of the rotation—AJax and AJ Green were good for six each, Lopez for three, and Prince for zero. Trent was consistent in each frame and took and made some tough looks, especially stepping inside the three-point line. Defensively, I think he is still finding his feet next to someone like Damian Lillard (Jackson Jr.’s preponderance of quick twitch energy is evident here), but his recent push into averaging double-digit scoring on good efficiency is exactly how he can make a case for pushing back into the starting lineup should the need arise.

Khris Middleton

Khris was good to great in his 20 minutes of play. The 11 points won’t wow, but he was also good for a late three to help topple the Nets. It was his six assists with zero turnovers that should garner some attention, though. For all those who forget or forgot (myself largely and loudly included) how well Middleton tends to fit in with a variety of lineups, his controlled performance against Brooklyn was a great reminder. His height gives him access to passing lanes that someone like Lillard has to drive to force open, he quite clearly has the kind of enhanced mental enmeshment with Giannis that no other basketball player on Earth shares (those transition and entry passes… oh my), and the odds of his tough shots going in tend to be better than Bobby’s. All that without bogging down the flow of the offense. Let’s call it two-for-two in terms of good Middleton performances on his young season.

Bonus Bucks Bits

It was a quiet scoring night for Dame with 15 points on merely 2-7, all shots come from outside. While you’d normally like to see him hunting his own shot more he made up for it seeking to create for others. His 11 assists were offset by 7 turnovers, but at least there was plenty coming from the bench to make up the difference.
If Andre Jackson Jr. ever gets even a semblance of a scorer’s sense, lineups that include him will sing. Doc Rivers did a superb job managing his minutes and fouls and was rewarded with great defense by Jackson late.
Also, nobody runs themselves ragged trying to set on-ball screens for Lillard like AJax. That lack of a driving/scoring instinct limits how effective Jackson can be, but it is a start.
Prince seemed a little sluggish still as he continues battling illness. Once he’s back to full health we’ll need to keep an eye on 1) When he is replaced in the starting lineup and 2) Whether he makes the closing lineup cut.
I’m starting to game theorize a situation where the Middleton-into-starting-lineup swap is accompanied by another change in that group, too. After all, Trent was brought to Milwaukee to fill that two guard spot alongside Milwaukee’s other starters. Will Trent’s improved play garner another spot start even if Jackson continues to play relatively well?
Bobby-Brook big lineups continue to bleed interior scoring and transition looks. That went a long way to putting Brooklyn in a leading position late in the third before a Bucks run evened things up.

Up Next

The regular season will now step somewhat aside for the closing phases of the NBA Cup as the Bucks look to make two consecutive Cup final appearances. They’ll continue their campaign on Tuesday hosting the Orlando Magic. Tip-off is set for 6:00 PM CST and you’ll be able to watch it on FanDuel Sports Network WI and TNT.

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Milwaukee, WI

South side residents urge railroad company to clean up illegal dumping

Published

8 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

South side residents urge railroad company to clean up illegal dumping

As garbage continues to pile up on the train tracks behind their homes, neighbors on South 15th Place are urging the city and railroad company, Union Pacific, to address the illegal dumping.

Rats, cockroaches and piles of trash are frequent sights for some neighbors living near Pulaski Park on South 15th Place on Milwaukee’s south side.

The alley behind their homes and the train tracks beside the alley have become an illegal dumping ground for unwanted furniture, car tires, shopping carts, gallons of motor oil and large bags of trash.

Anna Zarnowski, who has been living on the street for 10 years, said this has been an issue since she moved in, but it’s ramped up in recent years.

She said she filed more than 10 complaints through the City of Milwaukee’s Click4Action app and said she’s called the office of her local alderman, 12^th District Ald. Jose Perez, about the issue, on several occasions.

“I love the south side. You want to see it succeed and be great, and at least just be comfortable and clean,” Zarnowski said.

“It’s not too much to ask for.”

Each time she calls or files a complaint, the garbage in the alley behind her home is removed. However, the train tracks are on private property owned by the railroad company, Union Pacific.

“The city says it’s not their responsibility — then it just sits,” Zarnowski said.

In several of Zarnowski’s complaints, she’s included photos of garbage piling up on the ground by the train tracks. Some of the garbage has been on the ground near the tracks for at least four years, she said.

“It’s a concern. You don’t want to have vermin around,” Zarnowski said.

Illegal dumping is impacting several neighbors

Christina Ornelas, 41, has owned a home on South 15th Place for 10 years.

When she moved in, she noticed garbage piling up on the street and along the train tracks.

“It’s like they clean, and then the next day there’s already a lot of garbage,” Ornelas said, in Spanish, adding that the waste on the train tracks remains even if the waste on the streets is removed, leading to pest issues.

Ornelas has not yet called the city about the illegal dumping near her home, but said she wishes the city and the owners of the train tracks could come together to find a solution to prevent illegal dumping, for example, by adding cameras to the road to discourage the activity.

The city’s Department of Neighborhood Services processes some illegal dumping complaints, but most dumping complaints are addressed through a collaboration of other departments, including the Department of Public Works, according to Jeremy McGovern, the Neighborhood Services’ marketing and communications officer.

Neighborhood Services can help mitigate the problem by implementing some preventative measures to reduce illegal dumping, like installing cameras and traffic control measures to prevent access to the area, sending violation orders, or teaching neighbors how to report the issue to the city, McGovern said.

While Neighborhood Services is willing to provide this support, the illegal dumping taking place on the tracks behind Ornelas and Zarnowski’s homes is primarily the responsibility of Union Pacific.

Steps taken so far by Neighborhood Services

On Nov. 24, the department sent Union Pacific a violation order to remove the waste from its property behind Zarnowski’s home on South 15th Place by Dec. 3, 2025.

The railroad company can still file an appeal, which must be filed within 20 days, according to the violation order obtained by the Journal Sentinel.

Failure to comply with the order or file an appeal could result in prosecution or fines ranging from $150 to $10,000, according to the violation order report.

A representative from Union Pacific said the company plans to remove the waste on the train tracks following the new violation order sent by Neighborhood Services.

“Despite several clean-ups over the years, and another scheduled soon, illegal dumping at this site is a challenging issue that often returns just as quickly as we address it,” Union Pacific communications manager Robynn Tysver said in an emailed statement to the Journal Sentinel.

The last violation order sent to Union Pacific for the train tracks behind Zarnowski’s home was sent in April 2021.

This resulted in Neighborhood Services hiring its own contractor to clean the train tracks and billing the private company $835.66 for the clean-up, which it paid in full, according to McGovern.

A year later, on April 24, 2022, the train tracks were once again filled with garbage, and Zarnowski said she filed a new complaint.

Union Pacific declined to comment on why the previous violation order placed on the company to remove waste on the tracks resulted in an invoice from Neighborhood Services for the waste removal.

Elected officials respond to illegal dumping on railroad

Ald. Perez said Union Pacific is “historically difficult to work with … they are not the most responsive to any concerns.”

Perez said while his office has no record of Zarnowski’s calls, if the dumping on the train tracks near South 15th Place continues to be a nuisance for neighbors, his office is willing to collaborate with Neighborhood Services on a proactive solution to prevent the illegal dumping.

He also said his office would work with the City Attorney’s office to hold Union Pacific legally accountable to address the issue, if needed.

According to McGovern, Neighborhood Services is also willing to work with private property owners, like Union Pacific, regardless of the type of property, to discuss solutions for abatement and compliance.

However, Perez said he believes these kinds of issues would be better addressed if city departments worked more collaboratively on lasting solutions.

If one department arrives to conduct an illegal dumping clean-up, they could sweep the area to look for other possible concerns to refer to other departments, which would help address issues before they become a nuisance to neighbors, Perez said. This would ensure neighbors don’t need to file several complaints before an issue is escalated.

“These systems aren’t talking to one another … the accountability even between interdepartmental referrals is loose,” Perez said. “They’ve got to fix the system beyond the moment and the complaint in real time.”

Zarnowski said she hopes the waste is removed before heavy snow falls and freezes the garbage to the ground for another season.

“They [Union Pacific] should take some kind of action on it,” Zarnowski said. “If it’s their property, they should have some responsibility in keeping things tidy or at least trying to prevent it from happening.”

How to file a complaint for illegal dumping on private property

Neighbors impacted by illegal dumping on private property near their home can submit a complaint through the Click4Action App or by calling Neighborhood Services at 414-286-2268. For non-English speakers, bilingual staff members are available to assist, McGovern said.

If the dumping is on private property, they should make a note on the app or inform the operator, McGovern said. If a neighbor is unsure of whether the waste is located on private or city-owned property, Neighborhood Services can help verify the property owner and file the complaint appropriately.

Once the complaint is submitted, the city can schedule an inspection to verify it and then issue a violation order to the owner of the private property to remove the waste if needed, McGovern said.

If the waste is not removed after a given period, Neighborhood Services can hire a contractor to remove the waste and send a bill to the property owner, McGovern said.

If a resident files a complaint about illegal dumping and it’s on public or city-owned property, Neighborhood Services can escalate the complaint to another department, such as the Department of Public Works, McGovern said.

Alyssa N. Salcedo covers Layton Boulevard West for the Journal Sentinel’s Neighborhood Dispatch. Reach her at asalcedo@gannett.com. As part of the newsroom, all Alyssa’s work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors.

Support for this effort comes from the Zilber Family Foundation, Journal Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation and individual contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. The project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36‐4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association. 

Learn more about our community-funded journalism and how to make a tax-deductible gift at jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation with “JS Community Journalism” in the memo, then mailed to: Local Media Foundation, P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689.

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Milwaukee, WI

Snow Emergency in Milwaukee: parking restrictions and no garbage pickup

Published

20 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

Snow Emergency in Milwaukee: parking restrictions and no garbage pickup

MILWAUKEE — The City of Milwaukee declared a snow emergency for Sunday and Monday night.

Overnight parking restrictions go into effect so that plows can clear the streets. All vehicles must be parked on the even-numbered side of the street by 10 p.m. on Nov. 30. Vehicles must be parked on the odd-numbered side by 10 p.m. on Dec. 1.

There is no parking allowed on either side of main streets or bus routes from 10 p.m to 6 a.m.

Some Milwaukee Public Schools have lots available for parking during snow emergencies from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Garbage and recycling pickup is suspended for Monday so that all Department of Public Works crews can focus on snow removal. Collection will resume on Tuesday with crews working extended shifts to catch up on delays.

Leaf collection was also paused during the snow removal. Nov. 30 was the last day for residents to rake leaves into the street, but it takes DPW crews two to three weeks after to complete the final collection.

Winter Parking begins Dec. 1

In addition to the snow emergency regulations, winter parking rules begin Monday.

Alternate side parking is required on certain residential streets at night between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. until March 1.

On even-numbered calander days, vehicles must be parked on the side of the street with even house numbers; on odd-numbered calendar days, a vehicle must be parked on the side of the street with odd house numbers.

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Milwaukee, WI

Snow totals range from 6 to 12 inches across Milwaukee County

Published

1 day ago

November 30, 2025

Press Room

Snow totals range from 6 to 12 inches across Milwaukee County

A winter storm dumped up to a foot of snow in parts of Milwaukee County over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Milwaukee.

The official snowfall total at Mitchell International Airport was eight inches as of Nov. 30, said Andrew Quigley, a meteorologist with the weather service.

“A lot of data is still pouring in this morning,” Quigley said on Nov. 30.

Areas east of the I-43/94 freeway that are closer to the lakeshore reported less snow, falling in the range of six to eight inches, he said.

Communities in the western part of Milwaukee County, such as West Allis, Greenfield and Wauwatosa, had reported snowfall totals between nine and 12 inches, he added.

The difference is the result of a still-relatively-warm Lake Michigan, which typically stays above freezing through December, Quigley said.

The winter storm warning expired at 6 a.m. Nov. 30.

A winter advisory remains in effect until 3 p.m. Nov. 30. The advisory notes wind gusts will cause snow to blow and drift, making for potentially hazardous driving conditions as people finish their Thanksgiving travels.

The holiday storm resulted in car crashes, flight cancellations and power outages in the Milwaukee area.

For live updates on road conditions and crashes in Wisconsin, check the 511 Wisconsin map.

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