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The Milwaukee Bucks face off with the Atlanta Hawks tonight as both teams battle for play-in positioning. The Bucks (four games back) sit at 11th, while the Hawks are tied with the Hornets for 10th; a Bucks win means they would gain a full game on the Hawks. This will be the second matchup between these teams this season, with Milwaukee taking the first on MLK Day in Atlanta. With just one more matchup to come, the Bucks can claim the season series tonight.
Where We’re At
As I explained on today’s episode of Deer Diaries, the Bucks have lost three straight because their offence—which had been sustaining them—has deteriorated rapidly. Their defence has been consistently weak all season (even during the recent winning streak), so that was never going to bail them out. If they can’t recover their previous level of offensive efficiency, they’re finished. On the positive side, Giannis returned and, while he appeared rusty, I thought he looked solid athletically. Hopefully, he continues to improve in all facets as the games progress.
The Hawks are in a much better spot than they were when these teams last met, having won five of their last six games (granted, three of those came against the Wizards and Nets). The newly acquired Jonathan Kuminga has shocked everybody with his performance since getting dealt to Atlanta at the deadline, scoring a combined 64 points in his three games in a Hawks uniform (again, though, two came against the tanking Wiz). They’re also finally getting solid contributions from CJ McCollum, who had a rough start with the team since arriving.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Taurean Prince (neck) is out. The Hawks have a clean bill of health.
Player To Watch
Giannis. Not because he’s the best player on the team, but because he’s coming back off a long injury-induced break. While GA looked decent athletically in his return, he went 7/18 from the floor (including some bad misses) and had three turnovers. How does he look tonight with the return game out of the way?
How To Watch
ESPN and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 8:30 p.m. CST.
