INDIANAPOLIS – The Milwaukee Bucks (16-14) have I misplaced two in a row and three of their closing 5 as they head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to tackle the Indiana Pacers right now in a New 12 months’s Eve matinee. The Pacers (16-17), led by Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton, is coming off a giant win in opposition to Boston on Sunday and has received seven of its final 10 video games.
The Bucks received the first match of the season 129-117 on November 22 on the Fiserv Discussion board.
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Indiana dominated Milwaukee final season, going 4-1 within the common season and ship the Bucks to the primary spherical of the playoffs.
Is Giannis taking part in?
It should in all probability depend upon pre-game warm-ups, just like the two-time MVP participated in Bucks follow on December 30 in Milwaukee however he was nonetheless thought of questionable because the staff left for Indianapolis. Antetokounmpo traveled to Chicago on December 23 and 28, however was despatched house twice and didn’t play in both recreation. He hasn’t performed since Dec. 20 at Cleveland, lacking video games due to again spasms and sickness.
What’s the Bucks’ document with out Giannis?
3-3.
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What time is the Bucks recreation right now?
It is a matinee in Indianapolis and the sport will tip off at 2 p.m. CT.
What channel are the Bucks on?
The sport might be broadcast regionally on FanDuel Sports activities Community Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Steve Novak and Melanie Ricks on the decision.
Tyrese Haliburton warms up for the Pacers
The Oshkosh North alumnus had an amazing first half of the 2023-24 season, and regardless of coping with leg accidents all through the marketing campaign, he nonetheless helped lead the Pacers to the Jap Convention Finals . He was additionally a part of the gold medal-winning United States males’s Olympic basketball staff, however suffered some accidents in coaching.
With out a lot relaxation, Haliburton began this 12 months slowly.
By means of the primary quarter of the season, he shot simply 33% from behind the three-point line and 41% general whereas averaging 17.6 factors and eight.4 assists per recreation – a substantial drop from to his background averages of 20 factors and 10 assists. back-to-back All-Star campaigns in 2023 and 2024.
However over the past 10 video games wherein Indiana has gone 7-3, Haliburton is taking pictures 39 p.c from behind the three-point line and is averaging 18.2 factors and 9.3 assists per recreation. The 6-foot-5 level guard desires to push the tempo and get into the lane, one thing the Bucks have admittedly regressed in defending the final two video games in losses to Brooklyn and Chicago.
Josh Giddey, the Bulls’ 6-8 level guard, had a triple-double in Chicago’s 116-111 win over Milwaukee on Dec. 28 on the United Middle.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, questionable (non-COVID sickness)
- AJ Inexperienced, possible (proper calf contusion)
- Khris Middleton, possible (operation on each ankles)
Seemingly beginning Bucks
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Andre Jackson Jr.
- Forwards: Bobby Portis Jr., Khris Middleton
- Middle: Brook Lopez
Bucks vs. Pacers odds, over/beneath
Milwaukee is a 1.5-point favourite in opposition to Indiana and the sport’s over/beneath is 229.5 factors, in keeping with BetMGM.
