NBA Notes: Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Grizzlies, Ty Jerome, Rockets

Bucks

Things feel tense in Milwaukee. The Bucks dropped their fourth loss in five games and now sit seven games under .500 at 18-25. Losing to Oklahoma City is understandable. Getting blown out by a Thunder team missing key pieces is not.

Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t sugarcoat it afterward.

“We’re not playing hard,” Antetokounmpo said, via the Associated Press. “We aren’t doing the right thing. We’re not playing to win. We’re not playing together. Our chemistry’s not there. Guys are being selfish.”

He finished with 19 points but took only 11 shots, a surprisingly low number given Kevin Porter Jr. remains sidelined with an oblique injury.

“I’m not the guy that will yell and cuss his teammate out and demand the ball,” Antetokounmpo said. “But I’ve played with teammates that understand the gravity I can create. Right now, I really don’t get it.”

Milwaukee is just a game-and-a-half out of the final play-in spot. But the vibes feel heavier than the standings suggest, and Giannis-related trade speculation is not going anywhere.

Grizzlies

Ty Jerome may finally be nearing his season debut. The Memphis guard, sidelined all year with a right calf injury, “should be close” to returning, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Saturday marks nine weeks since the team said he was six to nine weeks away.

Rockets

Reed Sheppard has gone from afterthought to weapon.

The second-year guard now leads Houston with 2.5 made threes per game and is hitting 40.9 percent from deep, per the Houston Chronicle. That matters for a Rockets team ranking 29th in total three-point makes.

After barely seeing the floor as a rookie, Sheppard is suddenly spacing the court and earning real trust.

A quiet but meaningful leap.