THE Milwaukee Bucks will increase a banner Saturday night in Milwaukee, celebrating their Emirates NBA Cup title. Followers arriving a couple of minutes early to their seats at Fiserv Discussion board earlier than Milwaukee takes on the Washington Wizards will be capable to see the staff commemorate the triumph on the second annual midseason showcase.
Subsequent comes the sport itself, the place the Bucks will possible be shorthanded towards a 4-21 Wizards staff, which earned a 123-114 win over Charlotte in its final sport on Thursday.
Milwaukee (14-12) took one on the chin Friday at Cleveland, 124-101. The Bucks must play for the second straight evening with out star guard Damian Lillard, and Giannis Antetokounmpo can be extremely questionable for the sport.
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo taking part in tonight towards the Wizards?
No, except unexpected.
Antetokounmpo was listed as questionable for the sport towards the Wizards as a result of again spasms, however he’ll virtually actually be out. Bucks coach Doc Rivers known as him “in all probability out” throughout his pregame press convention, and Antetokounmpo was not on the court docket for his regular pregame routine.
“I say he is out as a result of I believe he ought to be out, personally. However with Giannis it is ‘in all probability out,’ as a result of he is attempting…I did not even need him to return , as a result of I knew if he got here, then he’ll attempt to get on the bottom,” Rivers mentioned. “I simply suppose he ought to be out. However I do not make that call.”
The brand new NBA Cup MVP has suffered from tendinopathy (ache) in his proper kneecap since coaching camp, however has not missed a sport with the issue to this point this season.
The Bucks are 1-1 this yr in video games Antetokounmpo hasn’t performed in.
Will Damian Lillard play tonight?
Damian Lillard is listed as out on Saturday.
Lillard, who was named to the Emirates NBA Cup All-Match staff after his staff’s victory on Tuesday, developed discomfort in his proper calf. towards Atlanta within the earlier Saturday’s semifinal; the damage was rediagnosed as a pressure. Though head coach Doc Rivers mentioned Friday he could not predict whether or not Lillard would play Saturday, it did not look promising that he could be obtainable.
“He might play as early as Monday in Chicago or proper after,” Rivers mentioned. “He educated at present and he felt fairly good.”
The Bucks may also be with out AJ Johnson, Chris Livingston and Tyler Smith, all of whom are at the moment assigned to the G-League.
What’s Khris Middleton’s damage standing?
Khris Middleton, in the meantime, was listed as possible as he continues to recuperate from bilateral ankle surgical procedure, and Rivers mentioned Middleton was obtainable even after practically 20 minutes towards Cleveland on Friday evening.
“Khris had a tough time yesterday, however I stored telling him to be aggressive,” Rivers mentioned. “I hate to say this, however midway by means of the third quarter we knew the sport wasn’t going our manner, so I simply began calling Khris’ quantity each time. watched a couple of instances saying, ‘I’ve missed three in a row You do not miss that many video games and suppose you are going to have rhythm, and we’d like him, so burn these minutes, that is mainly it. that I did final evening.
“He advised me this morning, ‘I like what you do, however then I am exhausted too,’ and I mentioned, ‘I do know,’ however it’s simply that we now have to assist him s It’ll take some time for him to be nice, however we’d like him.
The Bucks have but to play a back-to-back sport since Middleton returned to the lineup on December 6 after lacking the primary 21 video games of the season. He has solely performed in back-to-back ends as soon as within the final two seasons.
Middleton has come off the bench in each sport he has performed this season, averaging 20.8 minutes per sport.
Milwaukee Bucks Damage Report
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Out: Damian Lillard (proper calf pressure), AJ Johnson, Chris Livingston, Tyler Smith (G League)
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Questionable: Giannis Antetokounmpo (again spasms)
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Seemingly: Khris Middleton (bilateral ankle surgical procedure)
Seemingly beginning Bucks
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Guards: Andre Jackson Jr., AJ Inexperienced
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Benefits: Taurus Prince, Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Heart: Brook Lopez
Gamers from Wisconsin register for Wizards
Washington is loaded with gamers from Wisconsin, led by high scorer Jordan Poole, a Milwaukee King graduate who averages 20.6 factors per sport.
Johnny Davis, La Crosse native and former College of Wisconsin star has performed in 19 video games with the Wizards this yr and is averaging 3.5 factors. Patrick Baldwin Jr, Sussex Hamilton graduate and former UW-Milwaukee participant. has appeared in 12 video games this yr and is averaging 2.1 factors per contest.
Former Bucks second-round decide Malcolm Brogdon, who performed with Milwaukee for the primary three years of his profession, is averaging 14.9 factors per sport however has solely performed in 10 video games with the Wizards, together with their match on Thursday. Brogdon underwent surgical procedure to restore a torn thumb ligament in October.
Wizards damage report: Kyle Kuzma nonetheless out
Kyle Kuzma, the Wizards’ second-leading scorer, has not performed since Nov. 27 due to a sprained left rib. He’s out for the sport towards the Bucks and can miss a ninth straight time.
What time is the Bucks vs Wizards sport?
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 21.
Is the Bucks vs Wizards sport on TV?
The sport may be seen on FanDuel Sports activities Community Wisconsin with announcers Dave Koehn, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks.
The sport may also be broadcast on AM-620 WTMJ in Milwaukee and on the BMO Bucks Radio Community with Josh Maurer and Justin Garcia.
Need some Emirates NBA Cup Championship presents?
The Bucks mentioned Emirates NBA Cup Championship merchandise might be obtainable on the Bucks Professional Store at Fiserv Discussion board beginning Saturday.
Bucks vs. Wizards Odds and Over/Below
The Bucks are favorites with 11.5 factors towards the Wizards, in accordance with BetMGM. The over/underneath for each groups is 223.5 factors.
Doc Rivers nominated for Corridor of Fame
Rivers, who was as soon as named one in all 15 best coaches in NBA historical pastis eligible to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame for the primary time.
“It means so much,” Rivers mentioned earlier than the sport towards the Cavaliers. “It means I am outdated. It means I’ve achieved a very good job within the league to be talked about. It is humbling. And, you recognize, aside from that, I do not like to speak about it as a result of we’re in the course of the season, that is clearly not the place I am pondering.”
He’s one in all 10 coaches to win at the very least 1,000 common season video games and has an opportunity to catch 11-time champion Phil Jackson for seventh all-time this season if the Bucks win 28 extra video games.
“I believe it’s laborious to look again on the whole lot you’ve achieved while you’re nonetheless attempting to perform,” he mentioned. “As a result of that is not your aim. In order that’s in all probability the place I am at proper now.”
Rivers is one in all 4 energetic head coaches on this High 15 checklist, which was revealed together with the 75 best gamers of all time in 2021. Gregg Popovich (San Antonio), Steve Kerr (Golden State) and Erik Spoelstra ( Miami) are nonetheless coaching. Former Bucks coach Don Nelson can be a part of this unique group.
This text initially appeared within the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks damage report for Giannis and Damian Lillard for Wizards sport
