GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Just before tipoff, John Henson grabbed a microphone and welcomed the fans in attendance at the Resch Center to "a new era of Milwaukee Bucks basketball."
After an offseason filled with change, the new-look Bucks began their preseason opener by falling behind 20-5. The experienced, playoff-tested Memphis Grizzlies took it to Milwaukee early, and it appeared as if the new era was going to get off to an inauspicious start.
But the young Bucks fought back. And while the Grizzlies sat four of their five starters for the entire second half, the Bucks were sharp down the stretch in an 86-83 victory.
"I think the people here that watched got to see the young Bucks play," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. "No matter who suits up or who plays, you have to learn how to win, and I think we took a step in that direction."
The lineup of Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker and John Henson played the final six minutes and overcame a six-point deficit.
Middleton scored nine points in the final 5:35 of the game, including hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer with 23.9 left on the clock. Knight and Parker each chipped in eight fourth-quarter points.
"We were going to find if guys were going to give in and quit, and nobody quit playing," Kidd said. "At the end of the game it was kind of scripted. As a coach, you always want to see how your young guys respond to different situations -- being down, needing a basket.
"We executed the plays down the stretch and that is hopefully something we can build on and gain confidence with."
Following a Middleton jumper to cut the Memphis lead to 75-71 with 3:49 to play, Parker had the ball on the baseline. He faked one direction and came back the other way for a thunderous, one-handed slam, leaving defender Earl Clark completely thrown off.
Parker then tied the game at 75 with a layup in transition off a pass from Antetokounmpo.
"I was just trying to make the move," Parker said. "He was playing real good defense. I was just trying to throw counters, because these guys are real fast on their feet. That's what it was."
The lead changed five times in the final three minutes, as Middleton and Henson hit big shots each time the Grizzlies pulled ahead by a point. A tip shot from Clark put Memphis up 83-81 with 44.6 to play, but Milwaukee again had an answer.
Middleton, off a pass from Knight, drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing to put the Bucks up, 84-83. Antetokounmpo eventually iced the game by hitting a pair of free throws with 8.5 seconds on the clock.
"Middleton makes a big shot," Kidd said. "Knight could have probably shot one, but he passes it up and found his partner for a 3, and Khris delivered."
Middleton led all scorers with 17 points, while Parker overcame a slow start in his NBA debut to finish with 14 points and eight rebounds. Parker started 1 of 7 from the floor -- including an air-ball on his second shot attempt -- and ended up 6 of 15 from the field.
"I wasn't really nervous. I was more anxious," Parker said. "I had a lot of energy. By the fourth quarter I settled down and let the game come to me. I was able to get a lot of easy points."
It is important to note that the Grizzlies were playing a lineup of reserves and young players for almost the entirety of the second half, as Quincy Pondexter (seven second-half minutes) was the only Memphis starter to play after halftime.
But, regardless of who was playing for the opponent, the Bucks can take a lot from endings like the one that took place Wednesday. The Grizzlies have a different agenda for the preseason, but they also have different expectations for the regular season.
"We're gelling," Bucks center Larry Sanders, who finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds in his first game since Feb. 8, said. "We're trying to build a foundation for some great basketball. I think everyone contributed (Wednesday). Everybody felt part of the process. That's a great way to start."
Jumping ship? Having grown up in Chicago, Jabari Parker's NFL ties are to the Chicago Bears.
But with Parker playing his first NBA preseason game in the shadow of Lambeau Field on Wednesday night, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wanted the rookie to know it isn't too late to switch sides.
"The young kid they drafted, even though he's from Chicago; I think he's a Bears fan," Rodgers told reporters following Wednesday's practice. "There's plenty of room on the bandwagon. Make sure you relay that to Jabari."
When told what Rodgers said, Parker didn't bite.
"I already know the most talented team is the Packers, of course," Parker said with a grin. "But I'm a loyal fan. I have to stay with my Bears."
Reliving bad memories: Just above where Kidd did his pregame meeting with the media Wednesday hung a banner recognizing UW-Green Bay's 1994 NCAA tournament upset over California.
12th-seeded Green Bay's 61-57 upset over fifth-seeded California in Ogden, Utah was Kidd's last collegiate game.
"It actually kind of helped my decision to move on to the NBA," Kidd said Wednesday. "They were well coached and they had a great team. They were the better team that day. We definitely lost, but it was a great game."
Kidd scored 12 points with seven assists in the loss but shot just 4 of 17 from the field. The Phoenix were led by Jeff Nordgaard's 24 points. Green Bay would lose in the second round to fourth-seeded Syracuse, 64-59.
Preseason plans: A quick glance at the box score will make it seem like O.J. Mayo was benched for Wednesday's preseason opener, but it was planned for the veteran guard to sit against the Grizzlies.
Kidd wants to use a 12-man rotation, which means at least one player will have to sit each preseason game.
"Someone will sit tomorrow," Kidd said. "It helps with the combinations. If I go to 13, it throws it all off. (O.J. is) fine. He was happy to volunteer for the one to sit, so I'm happy he helped out with that."
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