Michael Carter-Williams

Bucks' Carter-Williams, Monroe producing with NBA's best

Published Nov. 17, 2015 2:00 p.m. ET

Dave Heller

The key to the Milwaukee Bucks against the Washington Wizards might just be the first half. Milwaukee has led at the half in three of its first four road games this season while Washington have trailed at the half in each of its first four home games.

The Bucks are best in the NBA in field-goal percentage (48.2 percent) and 3-point percentage (47.1 percent) in the first half of games this season. They are also eight in points per first half (51.9) and fourth in points in the paint (24.4).

Meanwhile, the Wizards are allowing 57.9 points in first halves this season, which is last in the NBA. In addition, Washington is second-to-last in the first half in opponent points in the paint (25.0) and field-goal percentage (49.5 percent) and 20th in opponent 3-point percentage (35.1 percent).

Speaking of points in the paint, Greg Monroe is fifth in the NBA in that category thus far this season at 12.8 points per game, ranking just below Detroit's Andre Drummond (15.2), Philadelphia's Jamil Okafor (14.9), Cleveland's LeBron James (14.8) and the Clippers' Blake Griffin (13.8).

Milwaukee point guard Michael Carter-Williams is in some elite company as well. Carter-Williams is one of four guards in the NBA with 250 steals and 75 blocks since the 2013-14 season, which is when Carter-Williams entered the league. Washington's John Wall is one of the four, as well.

GUARDS WITH 250+ STEALS, 75+ BLOCKS SINCE 2013-14

One final note, this from Saturday's win over Cleveland. Each of the Bucks' five starters in that game were younger than 26 years old. That was only the third time this occurred in the NBA this season -- also Portland on Nov. 9 and Orlando on Oct. 30 -- but it was the first time it resulted in a victory for that young a starting lineup.

Statistics provided by STATS Inc.