Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks on ‘must win’ heading to game in Dallas
Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks on ‘must win’ upcoming game in Dallas and Rivers, Kuzma react to the Bucks’ loss to Rockets on Nov. 9, 2025.
CHARLOTTE – The Milwaukee Bucks have, to date, fulfilled the competitive mandate of their on-court leader in Giannis Antetokounmpo about not losing two games in a row – but they have yet to stack wins together in the first part of the season.
Charlotte led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter before taking a 83-72 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Hornets took a 59-50 lead at the break, thanks in large part to an 11 of 13 performance from the free throw line. Nine different Charlotte players scored. The Bucks were led by Myles Turner and Ryan Rollins, who scored 16 apiece.
Charlotte took a 35-27 lead after the first quarter after shooting 58% overall and 40% from behind the 3-point line. Seven different Hornets scored. Milwaukee was led by Myles Turner’s eight points.
Just twice have the Bucks won two consecutive games, and they look to do so for a third time tonight in Charlotte when they face the Hornets at the Spectrum Center at 6 p.m. CT.
The last time the Bucks won two straight was Oct. 28-30 against New York and Golden State.
2025-2026 Bucks schedule: Dates, times; TV channels
Is Giannis playing?
No.
The game in Charlotte on Nov. 12 stood out to the Bucks as the middle game between two sets of back-to-back games, and head coach Doc Rivers said the team had long decided that star Giannis Antetokounmpo would likely sit the contest out.
“The numbers; this is, what are we — five games in seven days — it’s just a lot, you know?” Rivers said before the game. “We looked at this before it all started and this was the game, if we were going to sit him, just because it was right in the middle and it gives him (three) days off.”
After playing 36 and 37 minutes against Houston and Dallas, respectively, on Nov. 9-10, Antetokounmpo was listed as questionable to play against the Hornets on the Nov. 11 travel day. At shootaround early in the morning on Nov. 12, it didn’t appear as if the MVP candidate would be ready to go — which Rivers said he confirmed with the star after the session.
Off that, Rivers said the expectation is Antetokounmpo will be ready to play Charlotte on Friday at Fiserv Forum in an NBA Cup pool play game. Milwaukee is currently 1-0 in East Group C play and are the defending in-season tournament champions.
Antetokounmpo has been managing pain in that knee since colliding with Knicks forward Mikal Bridges near the end of the game against New York on Oct. 28.
What is the Bucks record without Giannis?
1-0.
Bucks starters
- Guards: AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., Ryan Rollins
- Forward: Kyle Kuzma
- Center: Myles Turner
Kon Knueppel makes impact for Hornets
Milwaukee native and Wisconsin Lutheran High School alumnus Kon Knueppel had gotten off to a fine start in his rookie season, even if it had not caught the attention like some others from a strong rookie class.
The No. 4 pick out of Duke, Knueppel came into the game averaging 32 minutes per game for the Hornets and shooting 40% from behind the 3-point line. The 6-foot, 7-inch wing averaged an impressive 16.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
“We showed it on film (Nov. 12) — a lot of times he rolls on picks, he’s a roller,” Rivers said before the game. “He gets the ball on the nail and his job is really to disperse the ball, not even to shoot the ball. He just knows how to get open. He knows where the open spots are. Very, very, very clever player.”
The Bucks did a good job of limiting Knueppel’s playmaking, but he did shake free for seven 3-point attempts in the first half.
LaMelo Ball is out vs. Bucks
Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball is out for the game vs. the Bucks on Nov. 12 with an impingement in his right ankle. It will be the fifth straight game Ball has missed with the injury.
The 24-year-old has had two surgeries on that ankle already, once for a fracture in 2023 and one to relieve an impingement in March 2025.
In the six games he did play, Ball averaged 23.3 points, 9.8 assists and 7.8 rebounds.
What time is the Bucks game?
The game in Charlotte is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the call.
Bucks vs. Hornets odds, over/under
Milwaukee is a 5.5-point favorite over Charlotte, and the over/under is set at 231.5 points per BetMGM.
