Porter Jr. urges a quick reset after a blowout loss.
The Milwaukee Bucks were handed a tough 98-127 loss at home to the New York Knicks on Friday night, and it wasn't close for most of the game.
The Knicks led by as many as 32 points and controlled the tempo from start to finish, leaving the Bucks with a lot to think about heading into the weekend.
Milwaukee guard Kevin Porter Jr. didn't sugarcoat the result after the game, but he also wasn't ready to let it linger.
He spoke about the importance of moving on quickly and keeping the team's focus pointed forward.
"Where we're at right now, we can't harp on anything...we got to get to the next game and each game is its own battle," Porter Jr. said. "So we got to flush this...We got a back to back coming up. But we got to prepare for it."
A Rough Night All Around
The Bucks struggled on both ends of the floor, shooting just 42.9 percent from the field, while the Knicks shot a scorching 52.3 percent and knocked down 21 threes on 50% shooting from beyond the arc.
Jalen Brunson led the way for New York with 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting and seven rebounds, while OG Anunoby added 24 points of his own.
It was a dominant showing on both sides of the ball for the Knicks.
Milwaukee simply had no answer for the Knicks' offensive attack, and the 29-point loss was one of the team's worst of the season.
Porter Jr. finished with 11 points, six rebounds and 10 assists for a double-double, but he shot just 4-of-12 from the field and the Bucks turned the ball over 16 times as a team.
It was an uncharacteristically quiet scoring night for Porter Jr., who has been one of the best stories in the league since the All-Star break.
Porter Jr.'s Strong Play Since the Break
Even with the rough outing against the Knicks, there is no denying how well Porter Jr. has played this season and especially in February.
He is averaging 18.2 points, 7.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game on the year, and in nine February appearances heading into the Knicks game he was putting up 21.9 points, 7.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 steals.
Those numbers have been a big reason why Milwaukee went on a hot streak in early February, winning five of six games heading into the All-Star break.
Porter Jr. has stepped into a lead guard role with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined by a calf injury since late January, and he has taken the opportunity and run with it.
His playmaking, scoring and defensive effort have given the Bucks a reason to feel good about their backcourt, even as the rest of the roster has dealt with health issues all season long.
What Comes Next for Milwaukee
The loss drops the Bucks to 26-33 on the season, putting them in a tough spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Meanwhile, the Knicks improved to 39-22 with the win and continue to look like one of the top teams in the East.
For Milwaukee, the path forward remains unclear with Antetokounmpo's return timeline still uncertain and the schedule not getting any easier.
Porter Jr.'s message of flushing the loss and getting ready for the next game is the right one, though.
The Bucks have a back-to-back on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls, and every game matters at this point in the season.
Milwaukee does not have the luxury of dwelling on bad performances, and Porter Jr. knows that better than anyone.
If the Bucks want to make a push, they need to take his advice, move forward, and get back to the level of play that made them one of the hottest teams in the league just a few weeks ago.