The Milwaukee Bucks’ struggles continued on January 29, 2026, as they dropped their fourth consecutive game, falling 109-99 to the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. The loss capped a difficult stretch for Milwaukee, who have now lost eight of their last ten games and find themselves languishing in 12th place in the Eastern Conference—far from the playoff picture they’d hoped to be in at this point in the NBA season.
This matchup was the fourth and final regular-season meeting between the Bucks and the Wizards, with Washington ultimately taking the season series 3-1. The Wizards, who improved to 12-34 with the win, remain one of only three teams with a worse record than Milwaukee in the East. For the Bucks, the defeat came at the tail end of a grueling three-game, seven-day road trip, with the team scheduled to face the Boston Celtics next as they desperately search for answers.
It was another night where the Bucks simply couldn’t find their shooting touch. They opened the game with a cold 1-for-8 start and never really recovered, finishing with just 26% shooting from beyond the arc and 41% overall. The Wizards weren’t exactly lighting it up either, hitting only 22% from three and 39% overall, but they made up for it at the free-throw line—converting 25 of 28 attempts, a critical edge in a game where every point mattered.
Milwaukee found themselves in a 13-point hole early in the fourth quarter but showed some fight, cutting the deficit to just two points with 90 seconds remaining. Yet, as has been the story too often this season, they couldn’t get over the hump. Washington’s Bub Carrington knocked down two clutch free throws with just over 40 seconds left, pushing the Wizards’ lead back to six and effectively sealing the contest.
The Bucks’ injury woes continued to cast a shadow over their campaign. Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with a right calf strain—the second such injury for him this season—and is out indefinitely. Head coach Doc Rivers has not set a timetable for his return, and the Bucks have struggled mightily in his absence, sporting a 3-12 record without their two-time MVP. They were also missing Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique), Taurean Prince (neck surgery), and Gary Harris (hamstring), with Cole Anthony available after illness.
With Giannis out, the Bucks looked to Bobby Portis Jr. to shoulder more of the scoring load. Portis, who entered the game as the NBA’s fourth-best three-point shooter at 45.8%, put up 19 points on 2-for-5 shooting from deep and added seven rebounds. “It’s about reps; the more reps you get the more confidence you get in your shot,” Portis told the Journal Sentinel earlier in the month. “I look at how the ball is passed to me now so I can grab the ball on the seams of the ball, all those little things that kind of help you become a better shooter. I try not to shoot any ball if it’s not on the seams, I try to get off of it.”
Portis wasn’t alone in stepping up. Myles Turner recorded a double-double, finishing with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and an impressive six blocked shots—tying his season high. Kyle Kuzma contributed across the board with 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Ryan Rollins, who has emerged as one of the team’s most improved players, added 17 points and eight assists, while Pete Nance chipped in 13 points. Khris Middleton scored 13, and Alex Sarr pulled down 17 rebounds to go with his 16 points.
Rollins, however, provided a scare late in the game. After rolling his ankle earlier in the fourth quarter, he was visibly hobbled and required attention from the Bucks’ training staff during a timeout with just over two minutes left. Despite the pain, Rollins returned to the floor for the final 23.7 seconds. He finished the night with 17 points, nine assists, and three steals, helping to spark the Bucks’ late push.
On the Wizards’ side, Kyshawn George led all scorers with 23 points, while Carrington’s 13 points off the bench—including those crucial late free throws—provided a timely boost. The Wizards’ ability to get to the line was a difference-maker; they attempted 19 more free throws than the Bucks and made eight of nine in the decisive fourth quarter. Milwaukee’s defense, usually a strength, couldn’t avoid fouling shooters in key moments, giving up a four-point play to Carrington and seven points overall from fouls on three-point attempts.
Andre Jackson Jr. saw a brief stint as the Bucks’ sixth man, coming in for Kuzma after early foul trouble but playing just three minutes. Jackson has seen limited action this season, with most of his appearances coming in deep reserve roles. The Bucks’ depleted backcourt and wing rotation—missing Porter Jr., Harris, and Prince—has forced them to rely on less experienced players and reshuffle their lineup, further complicating their quest for consistency.
The Bucks’ record against the Wizards this season fell to 1-3. ESPN analytics had given Milwaukee a mere 1.3% chance of making the playoffs before the game, and with the loss, their postseason hopes grow ever dimmer. On the flip side, their odds of landing a top-four pick in the NBA draft lottery stood at 29% heading into the night, a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in the NBA.
For the Wizards, the victory offered a rare bright spot in an otherwise challenging season. They snapped a nine-game losing streak just days earlier and have now notched wins in three of their last five games against Milwaukee. Alex Sarr, who was questionable with illness before the game, has been a steady force for Washington, having scored at least 24 points in three of his last four games and posting ten double-doubles this season.
Looking ahead, the Bucks return home after a tough road stretch, hoping to regroup and get healthier as they prepare to face the Celtics on February 1. The absence of Giannis continues to loom large, and the team’s ability to adapt without their franchise cornerstone remains the central storyline. As Bobby Portis candidly put it after practice on January 26, “Obviously it’s gonna be tough. I’m not gonna sit here and act like it’s aw, yeah, this answer is gonna solve the problem or that answer is going to solve the problem. Obviously it’s tough. You got an all-time great that’s out and lowkey the team is built around him. So, it ain’t gonna be just peaches and cream but at the same time we’re pros and guys have to step up and you know, probably play more minutes then they probably ever have, probably have more usage or more volume than they ever have, so different nights somebody is gonna shine different and everybody has to be cool with that. The biggest thing is stacking days, stacking wins.”
With the playoff race slipping away and the roster battered by injuries, the Bucks need to find answers—and fast. Whether they can turn things around or will have to look toward the NBA draft lottery is the question hanging over Milwaukee as the season grinds on.