The Bucks looked like a completely new team as they took down the Hornets 123-113 on Monday night. 

With Antetokounmpo back, the Bucks may as well be a new team. Antetokounmpo and the Bucks controlled the game from start to finish.

Hornets forward and season-leading scorer Miles Bridges exited the game with an injury just seven minutes in, and Charlotte struggled to recover from there on.

With three Charlotte starters out by the end of the game, Milwaukee utilized its talented frontcourt to control the Hornets. 

The leading scorers for Milwaukee were the frontcourt trio of Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner and Bobby Portis. They combined for 72 of the team’s 123 points.

Turner logged an especially inspiring performance of 23 points, six rebounds, and four blocks.

“It’s a beautiful thing when you’re able to execute in the game,” Turner said.

Turner played a key role in the victory, providing consistent scoring and rim protection as the Bucks held off any Hornets run throughout the game. 

He also gave Milwaukee a reliable presence in the paint while spacing the floor effectively. Rivers has shifted Turner’s role within the team, and the 11-year veteran has embraced the challenge.

“Basketball gods reward stuff like that,” Turner said.

Turner was not only efficient on the offensive side of the game, but also put in a heroic effort defensively.

“I made it a challenge to be better defensively,” Turner said. “There was a 2-3 year stretch where I really wasn’t myself.”

Turner, who’s led the league in blocks per game twice in his career, is making a notable change to his role on the team as he shares the court with ball-dominant scoring threats like Antetokounmpo.

“This is the first time I’ve embraced being uncomfortable,” Turner said.

As Antetokounmpo continues to return to the court, Turner will continue to adapt to the change.

The new-look Bucks outshot the Hornets from all over the floor but were surprisingly outrebounded 47–31, especially considering Milwaukee’s strong frontcourt against a heavily rotated Charlotte lineup.

The 11–21 Hornets have battled issues on multiple fronts. Despite flashes of potential from former draft picks like Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte has been unable to find consistency while missing large portions of its frontcourt, including Grant Williams, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Mason Plumlee, and now Bridges.

The Bucks shot 47% from behind the arc, and Turner has been just as much a part of that success as anyone else.

“The whole league is a copycat league; we’re not reinventing the wheel.”

As the league continues to push big men to shoot deep balls, Turner is keeping pace. He’s averaging 5.9 three-point attempts per game, the most in his career and up from his previous average of 3.4.

Even Antetokounmpo joined in on the action, attempting—unsuccessfully—to make his second game-icing bucket in a row.

As Turner continues to splash threes and Antetokounmpo continues to attempt them, the Bucks keep winning and move ever closer to their usual place in the playoff picture.

Milwaukee hosts the 7–24 Washington Wizards on Wednesday, looking to capitalize on its run of wins.