The injury bug hitting the Milwaukee Bucks meant more opportunities for Pat Connauhgton over the past week. With Giannis Antetokounmpo out March 22 against the Indiana Pacers, Connaughton was given his first start of the season. He made the most of it by tying his season high with 20 points, including six 3-pointers, and finishing one rebound shy of a double-double in a game-high 33 minutes. It easily was his best game of the season.
Connaughton returned to the second unit March 24 against the Boston Celtics and came back to earth with five points and six rebounds. The Bucks faced the Celtics again two nights later, and despite a 1-for-7 shooting performance for only six points, his 11 rebounds were one off his season high. With the Bucks missing four starters when they faced the New York Knicks on March 27, Connaughton had to put in heavy duty again. He had a much better game, scoring 12 points, including three 3-pointers.
There’s little argument that this past week was Connaughton’s best of the season. He averaged 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds over 29.3 minutes a game. He shot 48.3 percent from the field, including 11 of 20 from beyond the arc. The question is how long this impressive stretch will continue.