Have additions of Ousmane Dieng and Cam Thomas re-energized the Bucks?
The Milwaukee Bucks have stacked wins even with Giannis Antetokounmpo unavailable. Can it last? We discussed on the Point Forward Podcast.
NEW ORLEANS – The Milwaukee Bucks conclude their two-game season series with the New Orleans Pelicans tonight at the Smoothie King Center, and the Bucks look to match their longest winning streak of the season against one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Milwaukee is 23-30 overall and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference but come into the contest against New Orleans having won two straight and five of six. The Bucks’ longest, and only, win streak of the season was three in a row from Feb. 3-6. They beat the Pelicans in overtime on Feb. 4 as part of that run.
New Orleans is 15-41 and tied with three other teams for the second-fewest wins on the season. The Pelicans did win two of three heading into the break, however.
Is Giannis playing?
No.
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting closer to a return from his Jan. 23 soleus muscle strain in his right calf, though, as he participated in half of a practice Feb. 19. Antetokounmpo said at the all-star game Feb. 15 that he feels 100% but admitted he needed to go through some live practices before being cleared. Antetokounmpo also felt the timing of the break was a bit unfortunate as he didn’t have his team around to begin that ramp-up process.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said before the game against New Orleans he didn’t think the all-star break slowed Antetokounmpo’s recovery at all, and live sessions will begin in Milwaukee when the team is back in town on Feb. 21.
“I think he’s gonna do some three-on-three, the typical buildup that we do, three-on-three, four-on-four, five-on-five,” Rivers said. “Then we’ll go to the angels and we’ll see.”
Antetokounmpo suffered his first strain in that calf on Dec. 3 and was out until Dec. 27. In the 13 games he played between Dec. 27 and Jan. 23, he averaged 29 minutes per game and topped 32 minutes just twice. When asked if the two-time league MVP would have to be on a restriction on this next return, or if the goal was to hold him out until he could play a more regular 32-35 minutes, Rivers said he didn’t know.
“I mean, honestly,” the coach continued. “They’ll tell me that and we’ll go with it. But I literally don’t know right now.”
Antetokounmpo has not been at full capacity, minutes wise, since Nov. 15. He strained his left adductor on Nov. 17 in Cleveland, and has had his minutes limited since.
What is the Bucks record without Giannis?
8-15
Milwaukee has won five of those games since Antetokounmpo reinjured the calf Jan. 23.
Bucks vs. Pelicans has NBA draft implications
Beyond just securing a much-needed victory, it is in the Bucks’ best interest to beat the Pelicans from an offseason perspective. The Pelicans have the right to swap draft position with the Bucks as a remainder from the 2020 Jrue Holiday trade.
That means if the Bucks were to earn the No. 1 pick, the Pelicans would swap their higher position.
Unfortunately for New Orleans, it traded its right to that swap to Atlanta. That means the Pelicans are not in a position to “tank” and win fewer games than the Bucks.
Heading into league action Feb. 20, the Pelicans had a 52.1% chance of winning a top four pick in the draft lottery. The Bucks had 13.9% chance.
- Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)
- Myles Turner, out (right calf strain)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, out (right calf strain)
Bucks probable starters
- Guards: Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, AJ Green
- Forward: Kyle Kuzma
- Center: Jericho Sims
What time is the Bucks game?
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Wesley Matthews and Stephen Watson on the call.
Bucks vs. Pelicans odds
New Orleans is a 4.5-point favorite over Milwaukee with the over/under set at 222.5 points, per BetMGM.
