Doc Rivers Says Kyle Kuzma Has 'Bought Into His Shot Profile' After Career Night

Kyle Kuzma has been hearing it from Doc Rivers all season about his shot selection, and on Thursday night against the Boston Celtics, the veteran forward showed he's been listening.

Kuzma exploded for a season-high 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting as the Milwaukee Bucks knocked off the red-hot Celtics 116-101 at Fiserv Forum.

After the game, Rivers praised Kuzma for finally embracing the role Milwaukee needs from him.

"He's bought into his shot profile, he really has," Rivers said. "He avoids the in-between jumpshot, we want corner 3's from him, we want him to attack the basket. If he doesn't have a layup, spray it out. He did all those things tonight."

The performance was a far cry from what Bucks fans saw during last year's playoff exit against the Indiana Pacers, when Kuzma infamously went scoreless in Game 1 and finished the series averaging just 5.8 points per game.

Rivers has been vocal about needing Kuzma to cut out the mid-range shots he relied on during his time with the Washington Wizards and instead focus on threes and drives to the rim.

Against Boston, Kuzma did exactly that.

He was aggressive early and carried his momentum into the second half, scoring 11 of Milwaukee's first 13 points in the third quarter to spark a comeback after the Bucks trailed by as many as 14 in the first half.

The 30-year-old forward shot 76.5 percent from the field while also grabbing six rebounds and playing solid defense.

The win improves the Bucks to 11-15 on the season as they continue to navigate life without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is expected to miss two to four weeks with a strained right calf.

Milwaukee is now 2-7 this year without their superstar, making contributions like Kuzma's all the more important.

On the year, Kuzma is averaging 13.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 51.2 percent from the floor.

Thursday's performance bumped those numbers up and showed what he's capable of when he stays within Rivers' system.

Bobby Portis added 27 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while Kevin Porter Jr. recorded a triple-double with 18 points, 13 assists, and 10 boards to round out a balanced effort.

The Bucks will look to build on the win when they visit the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

For Kuzma, it's about proving Thursday wasn't a one-off and that he can consistently be the player Rivers and the Bucks are asking him to be.