The Milwaukee Bucks lost in disappointing fashion for the second straight game, losing to the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets, 115-102, Sunday evening at Barclays Center in New York. The Bucks lost to the rebuilding Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Bucks while Damian Lillard added 21 points.

Brooklyn was led by guards Cam Thomas (32) and Dennis Schröder (29). The starting backcourt was also a combined 7 for 16 from behind the three-point line and 18-for-19 from the free throw line.

The Bucks (1-2) now head to Boston to play the defending champion Celtics (3-0) on Monday night.

Here are some takeaways from the Bucks loss.

Nets hustle, three-point shooting dooms Bucks

Brooklyn set a tone immediately against Milwaukee, understanding that extra efforts were going to be needed to not just keep it close, but to win. And they did that, by using quick hands and anticipation to force seven early turnovers for seven points and then crashing the offensive glass to the tune of six extra possession that led to nine points. Those 15 extra points were huge, as it allowed the Nets to take a 27-25 lead after the first quarter.

The Nets also pressed the Bucks after made baskets, helping disrupt not just the inbound pass (which created one turnover by Gary Trent Jr., but any semblance of a half-court offense initiated by Lillard or Antetokounmpo.

Brooklyn technically has one all-star on its roster in Ben Simmons, but he last played at that level in 2020, so Nets first-year head coach Jordi Fernández must rely on a team that will swarm on defense and the offensive glass and knock down threes on offense.

BOX SCORE: Nets 115, Bucks 102

With the regulars in, the Bucks turned it over 16 times for 15 Nets points. Brooklyn also pulled down a dozen offensive rebounds and scored 21 points off those second chances. The 36 points went a long way in helping the 8.5-point underdogs take a 17-point lead with 4 minutes, 42 seconds left in the game when Rivers subbed out his starters.

And while the Nets weren’t “on fire” behind the three-point line per se, they were 15 of 43 (34.9%) and made plenty in opportune moments to either stave off a Bucks rally or build a lead. Milwaukee meanwhile couldn’t buy a three, with the regulars shooting just 28.1% (9 of 32) from distance.

Ben Simmons leads defensive effort on Giannis

Brooklyn forward Ben Simmons is healthy to start this season and the 6-foot, 10-inch forward has often matched up head-to-head against Giannis Antetokounmpo when he’s been available. Dating back to Simmons’ rookie year in 2018 in Philadelphia, he had held the two-time MVP to just 44.6% shooting and forced Antetokounmpo into 12 turnovers in 10 games against one another.

The pair went at it right away, with Simmons picking up two quick fouls in the opening minutes of play, but Antetokounmpo had gotten sped up when switched onto smaller defenders and turned it over twice in the same time frame.

While Simmons made sure to find Antetokounmpo whenever possible, it wasn’t just a one-person effort for the Nets to harass the Bucks’ big man on the defensive end. Brooklyn continually sent multiple players at Antetokounmpo, and he put up just three shots in the first half.

Antetokounmpo finished with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting. He also made 8 of 11 free throws.

Pat Connaughton commits flagrant foul on Dennis Schröder

Bucks wing Pat Connaughton caught Schröder across the face with an extended arm, sending Schröder to the court with just under eight minutes left in the game. At first the guard grabbed at his face, but then quickly got up and balled up his fists to stomp toward Connaughton.

He was prevented from reaching the Bucks player, and then the play was reviewed by the officials. It was deemed Connaughton did make an “unnecessary windup” in reaching for the ball and the foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 1.

Schröder made the ensuing two free throws to put the Nets up 96-85, their largest lead of the game at that point.

Five numbers

• 11: Differential in bench scoring for Brooklyn over Milwaukee when the regulars were in (30-19). With Khris Middleton still out, Taurean Prince is starting in his place and shortening Doc Rivers’ reserve unit.

• 15: Points Brook Lopez, on 6-of-9 shooting – including a 3-for-5 mark from behind the three-point line. It may not seem like much in a bad loss, but in the first two games the Bucks center was just 5-for-21 overall and 2-for-12 from behind the three-point line for 17 points.

• 20: Points scored by Milwaukee in the second quarter. It offset a strong defensive effort in which the Bucks allowed just 21.

• 35: Points scored by Brooklyn in the third quarter. Milwaukee allowed 34 points in the season opener on Oct. 23 and 39 points to Chicago on Friday night. The Bucks had finally gotten some rhythm offensively in the period and took a brief lead, but they couldn’t get enough stops to keep any momentum going into the fourth quarter.

• 16-10: Points and rebounds off the bench for Bobby Portis Jr. for his first double-double of the season. He had 17 last year.

What happened to Andre Jackson Jr.?

The second-year Bucks guard was involved in a single-car crash before the team left for New York. Jackson Jr. did not suffer any injuries and a team spokesman said he is with the team.

Jackson Jr. checked into the game with 3:26 to go in the game and appeared no worse for wear, playing his usual fast, physical style – which included diving on the floor for a loose ball at one point.

Bucks injury report

• Khris Middleton, out (surgery on both ankles)

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, probable (right patella tendinitis)

• AJ Green, probable (right great toe sprain)

More: Injury report for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2024-25 NBA season

Bucks starters

• Guards: Damian Lillard, Gary Trent Jr.

• Forwards: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tashaun Prince

• Center: Brook Lopez

Bucks schedule

• Monday: at Boston, 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday: at Memphis, 7 p.m.

• Saturday: vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks drop second in a row, losing 115-102 to Nets