Matt Velazquez

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

OAKLAND, Calif. - During the opening month of the season, members of the Milwaukee Bucks have voiced the belief that they're not getting their due level of respect or attention yet.

That's about to change. When you do what the Bucks did to the defending NBA champions on Thursday night, everyone takes notice.

In their most complete performance of the season to date and on national television to boot, the Bucks systematically dismantled the Golden State Warriors, 134-111, snapping the Warriors' eight-game win streak and handing them their first loss at Oracle Arena this season. Most of the sellout crowd spent the night stunned instead of roaring as usual and many didn't stay for the finish, beginning to file out early in the fourth quarter as both teams emptied their benches to play out the string.

“I think teams are starting to take notice and realize that we’re not the Bucks that we were when I first got here six years ago," said Bucks wing Khris Middleton, who had 17 points in the win. "We’re a totally different team even from last year. We’re going to come to play; we’re going to play hard.”

Milwaukee (9-2), known for its penchant for putting up three-pointers, switched things up by setting up shop in the paint for most of the night. Led by Eric Bledsoe, who had 26 points and six assists, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who put up 24 points without even playing in the fourth quarter, the Bucks attacked the rim every chance they got and put up a franchise record 84 points in the paint on 42 of 60 shooting.

BOX SCORE: Bucks 134, Warriors 111

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Warriors forward Draymond Green, one of the best defenders in the league and the heart of Golden State's squad, missed the game due to a right toe sprain and without him, Golden State (10-2) had no answer for Milwaukee's inside assault. Whether Green was in the game or not, though, the plan was always for the Bucks to invade the paint either as a means for kicking out to three-point shooters or for high-percentage shots in the lane.

"It's a big part of what we are trying to do," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We have guys that can get there and enough shooters that can spread the court. It starts with attacking the paint."

After a tight quarter and a half, momentum swung heavily in Milwaukee's favor in the latter stages of the second quarter. Back-up guard Pat Connaughton, who normally does his damage beyond the arc, played a key role inside making strong baseline cuts both with the ball in his hands and off the ball.

Mostly from the inside, he scored 13 of his 15 points in that period, including kicking off an 11-0 run that helped turn a one-possession game into a 13-point halftime lead for Milwaukee.

“I thought his minutes were really big with the plays, drives and finishes in the paint," Budenholzer said. "His minutes and first-half points were big.”

The margin kept growing from there. By the end of the third quarter, the Bucks had doubled from 13 points at halftime to 26 going into the fourth.

“Just attacking, being relentless," Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon said. "We didn’t take our foot off the gas at any point. Usually the Warriors are able to sneak up on teams in the third quarter and create that separation, but tonight we continued to attack them and didn’t let up.”

Bledsoe, a dominant presence throughout the night, shined especially bright in the third quarter with 10 of his 26 points and three of his six assists coming in that period. In addition to his offensive display, Bledsoe played physical, tough defense on Warriors star Stephen Curry before Curry left the game in the third quarter with a left adductor strain.

“Eric was phenomenal," Budenholzer said. "It goes without saying. Both ends of the court. Defensively, he was locked in. He can be really tough to screen, whether it be pick-and-rolls or chasing the ball. And then the way he attacked the other direction. I think when he saw opportunities and was able to get people on their heels he took advantage of it. That was great to see.”

Bledsoe was far from the only standout.

Brogdon, his sidekick in the backcourt, was right there alongside him in the third quarter, scoring 13 of his 20 points in that frame. Middleton had a relatively quiet 17 points and six assists, but was up to the challenge of defending Durant, helping hold the former MVP to 17 points on 6 of 15 shooting with six turnovers.

“We got to mention that," Antetokounmpo said of Middleton's defensive effort. "I think he did a great job defensively on KD, getting deflections, getting into his rhythm and getting up on him. He was able to slow him down.”

Thursday's victory marked Milwaukee's second in as many trips to Oracle Arena -- which is closing after this season as the Warriors move to a new home across the bay in San Francisco -- dating back to last season.

It was a signature, early-season win, the kind that might stir up memories of Milwaukee's December 2015 win over Golden State that dropped the Warriors to 24-1. This year, though, the Bucks are hoping that's not the high-water mark of their season. They both want more and they know they're capable of achieving more.

“People took it as a fluke," Middleton said referring to the game in 2015, "but now we feel like we’re one of the best teams out there. We’re playing like it.”