The Milwaukee Bucks will look to shake off a blowout loss when they host the Washington Wizards on Saturday night in the second night of a back-to-back set.
In a 124-101 setback to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 33 points and 14 rebounds for Milwaukee, which trailed 69-51 at halftime and was without Damian Lillard due to a right calf strain.
“We were flat, tired. We’ve got to move the ball more. We’ve got to get more organized,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “There’s no read on (Friday’s) game. We learned nothing. Look at the film quickly and throw it away.”
Rivers also spoke about the Bucks’ tight turnaround after winning the NBA Cup on Tuesday and said he hopes the league addresses the short window after the championship game in the future.
Washington most recently played on Thursday, taking down the visiting Charlotte Hornets 123-114. Jordan Poole scored 27 points and Malcolm Brogdon added 25 to lead Washington to just its second win in a span of 21 games.
Veterans Brogdon and Corey Kispert returned from injuries, which head coach Brian Keefe said played a big role in the victory.
“They kept the scoreboard moving. Those guys were super efficient (on Thursday). Nice to have those guys back to balance out the team and have a more even 48 minutes offensively.”
Poole leads Washington with averages of 20.6 points, 5.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Jonas Valanciunas is averaging a team-high 7.6 rebounds per game.
On the stat sheet as a team, Washington is at the bottom of the league in most categories.
The Wizards tied their franchise-worst 16-game losing streak earlier this season for the third time ever and second year in a row, but they snapped that run with an upset win over Denver on Dec. 7.
The Wizards also are flirting with the NBA’s worst-ever point differential, sitting at -14.8. The all-time record is -15.2, set by the 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks.
On the injury front, Washington was without Kyle Kuzma on Thursday due to a rib ailment. His status for Saturday has not been announced.
Milwaukee is expected to remain without Lillard, who did not travel with the team to Cleveland.
“I have no idea. I don’t think it’s a severe one (calf strain), but I think we’re going to be cautious,” Rivers when asked about Lillard. “It didn’t hurt during the (NBA Cup championship) game. It looked like he was favoring it, but he wanted to go back in.”
The star point guard is averaging 25.7 points a game and a team-high 7.5 assists. Antetokounmpo leads the NBA by averaging 32.7 points per game.
This will be the second of three matchups this season after Milwaukee won 124-114 at home on Nov. 30.
Antetokounmpo had one of his better performances of the season thus far with a 42-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist triple-double.
Poole collected 31 points and seven assists for Washington.
–Field Level Media
