Bucks forward Bobby Portis continues efficient career year

Welcome to the 2020-21 edition of the Bucks Weekly Spotlight. Each Thursday, we’ll track the progress of the players who are trying to help Milwaukee make a championship run and give updates on other players from the previous week.

This is the 11th edition of the 2020-21 Bucks Weekly Spotlight.

SPOTLIGHT ON …

Forward Bobby Portis

Portis is doing a lot more with a lot less in 2020-21.

Signed to a two-year deal before the season, Portis has made perhaps the biggest impact of any Bucks reserve.

On the season, Portis is averaging 11.0 points per game. He ranks second on Milwaukee in rebounds per contest (6.8) and third in field-goal percentage (53.8%). But what the Bucks may not have foreseen when they inked him to a deal was his efficiency shooting the 3-pointer.

Among NBA players with 100+ attempts from deep, Portis ranks fourth with a 48.0% clip (49 of 102). Using the same qualifier, Portis also has the fifth-best field-goal percentage (53.8%) in the NBA.

The Arkansas product has never shot over 40% from deep in his career. Last season, Portis notched a career-low 35.8% clip.

And he’s doing it all while shooting less. Portis is averaging 21 minutes per game, which is actually above his career mark of 20.5, but he’s attempting the fewest 3s (2.4) per game since his second NBA season in 2016-17 (1.5).

Portis’ efficiency was on full display Wednesday during the Bucks’ 121-119 win over Boston, notching 21 points off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting. He tied a season high with four makes from beyond the perimeter.

The 26-year-old doesn’t put up big enough numbers to qualify him as a top contender for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, but his role as a rebounder and efficient shot maker is becoming increasingly important for Milwaukee.

BUCKSHOTS

— Milwaukee traded D.J. Augustin and D.J. Wilson to Houston in exchange for Rodions Kurucs and P.J. Tucker on Friday. Tucker has appeared in three games for Milwaukee and has totaled three points and three rebounds while averaging 14.5 minutes per contest.

— Khris Middleton carried the load while Giannis Antetokounmpo rested Monday, as he tallied 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists to guide the Bucks to a 140-113 win over Indiana. But when the Greek Freak returned Wednesday, Middleton remained the alpha. “Khash” tallied 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds against Boston for his eighth double-double of the season.

— Donte DiVincenzo is averaging 12.9 points while shooting 40% from 3-point range (16 of 40) over his last seven contests. He’s logged double-digit points in six of those games, including a 17-point performance Wednesday vs. the Celtics.

— Pat Connaughton nailed a career-high six 3-pointers on seven attempts en route to a 20-point performance Monday vs. the Pacers. His previous career best was five 3-point makes, set April 12, 2017 when he was playing for Portland.

— Sam Merrill, the final pick (No. 60 overall) of the 2020 draft, has appeared in the last three contests. Merrill scored a combined eight points while draining 2 of 4 attempts from 3-point range in those games.