"What's our record?": Doc Rivers hypes players after Bucks' lockdown defense clamps Miami in NBA Cup skirmish

Coach Doc Rivers was blamed for the Milwaukee Bucks’ struggles in the first few weeks of the season. The Bucks, however, are now rolling with a 3-0 record in the Emirates NBA Cup and a stranglehold of East Group B.

After the Bucks' 106-103 win against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Rivers went to the locker room to talk to his players.

“Hey, that’s a hell of a win," he said. "We just hung in there and made enough plays to win [and] won the analytical game, right? We shot more 3s. We kept looking for them, defensively. Everybody. That’s terrific!

“I’ve got one question. What’s our record in the in-season tournament?”

The win was impressive as the Bucks did it on the road without their two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. They launched, and hit, more 3-pointers. They went 13-for-21 in the first half, the biggest reason they took a 65-51 halftime advantage, and finished 20-for-42. Miami ended the night 10-for-29 from the same distance.

When their long-range shots didn’t fall in the second half, they hung on with their defense. Doc Rivers’ players put up two crucial defensive stops in the last 3.0 seconds of the game. Brook Lopez contested Tyler Herro’s 3-pointer that could have given the Heat a 106-104 lead.

Following two free throws by Taurean Prince, the Miami Heat still had a chance to send the game into overtime. Andre Jackson Jr. and Lopez managed to put their hands up to prevent Terry Rozier from getting a clean look. Rivers credited Jackson for the hustle.

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Doc Rivers' Milwaukee Bucks finish the group stage with a matchup against the Detroit Pistons

The Milwaukee Bucks will look to formalize their entry into the next round of the Emirates NBA Cup on Tuesday. Waiting to derail them will be the Detroit Pistons, who have surprised many with a 2-0 record in the in-season tournament.

In the last meeting between the two teams, the Bucks needed an NBA season-best 59 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Pistons. Antetokounmpo’s heroics pushed his team to a 127-120 overtime win.