Bucks Outlast Grizzlies in Battle of Short-Handed Teams

Milwaukee snaps 8-game skid against Memphis despite missing key players

Apr. 5, 2026 at 11:11pm

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The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 131-115 in a Sunday afternoon matchup between two short-handed, lottery-bound NBA teams. Ryan Rollins scored 24 points for the Bucks, who shot 60.2% from the field and made 16 3-pointers. Memphis' Rayan Rupert recorded a triple-double with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but the Grizzlies were missing several key players due to injuries and COVID-19 protocols.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the challenges facing NBA teams dealing with injuries and roster turnover late in the season, as both the Bucks and Grizzlies were forced to rely on players on 10-day contracts to fill out their rotations. The Bucks' win snapped an 8-game losing streak against the Grizzlies, showing their resilience despite missing star player Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The details

The Bucks jumped out to an early 13-0 run and never relinquished the lead, though the Grizzlies did manage to cut the deficit to one point in the fourth quarter before Milwaukee pulled away. Cormac Ryan and Taurean Prince each shot 7-of-8 from the field for the Bucks, with Prince making 5 3-pointers. Myles Turner added a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. For the Grizzlies, 21-year-old Rayan Rupert had a career-best triple-double, but Memphis was severely shorthanded with four players on 10-day contracts.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

The players

Ryan Rollins

A player for the Milwaukee Bucks who scored a team-high 24 points in the game.

Rayan Rupert

A player for the Memphis Grizzlies who recorded a triple-double with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The star player for the Milwaukee Bucks who missed his 11th straight game due to a left knee injury.

Cormac Ryan

A player for the Milwaukee Bucks who shot 7-of-8 from the field and scored 21 points.

Taurean Prince

A player for the Milwaukee Bucks who shot 7-of-8 from the field, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, and scored 19 points.

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What they’re saying

“Rayan Rupert established new career highs with 33 points and 10 assists, and he matched a career best with 10 rebounds.”

— Steve Megargee, AP News Writer

What’s next

The Grizzlies will host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, while the Bucks will visit the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the depth challenges facing NBA teams late in the season, with both the Bucks and Grizzlies missing key players due to injuries and COVID-19 protocols. Despite the short-handed rosters, the Bucks were able to pull out the win behind strong shooting performances, snapping an 8-game losing streak against Memphis.