MILWAUKEE vs PHOENIX
When: 2/10/2021 10:00 PM
Where: PHX Arena, Phoenix

TV: 10:00 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: PHOENIX , MILWAUKEE

Oddsmakers currently have the Milwaukee Bucks listed as 4 point favorites versus the Phoenix Suns, while the game’s total is sitting at 226.5.

The Suns have gone 7-4 at home. Phoenix ranks ninth in the NBA with 25.9 assists per game led by Chris Paul averaging 8.2.

The Bucks have gone 7-6 away from home. Milwaukee ranks second in the league with 48.8 rebounds per game. Giannis Antetokounmpo paces the Bucks with 11.1.

The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Devin Booker is second on the Suns with 4.3 assists and scores 23.5 points per game. Cameron Johnson is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers and 10.8 points over the last 10 games for Phoenix.

Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Bucks. Khris Middleton is averaging 19 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 53.4% over the last 10 games for Milwaukee.

LAST 10 GAMES:

Suns: 6-4, averaging 109.8 points, 46.8 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 6.6 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points on 44.7% shooting.

Bucks: 7-3, averaging 122.6 points, 50.5 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 7.5 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.5 points on 44.9% shooting.

INJURIES:

Suns: Chris Paul: out (hamstring), Cameron Payne: out (foot), Dario Saric: out (ankle), Abdel Nader: out (ankle), Jae Crowder: out (right foot).

Bucks: Jrue Holiday: out (health protocols).

BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix will attempt to extend its three-game win streak with a victory against Milwaukee.

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MILWAUKEE vs DENVER
When: 2/8/2021 9:30 PM
Where:

TV: 9:30 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: DENVER , MILWAUKEE

Oddsmakers currently have the Milwaukee listed as 4 point favorites versus Denver, while the game’s total is sitting at 233.5.

Giannis Antetokounmpo arrives in Denver with the Milwaukee Bucks and brings with him two MVP awards.

Nikola Jokic is making a case for succeeding Antetokounmpo for the NBA MVP, and can burnish his resume when the Nuggets host Milwaukee on Monday night.

Jokic has played at an elite level for a few years but has reached another tier with his performances this season. The Denver center is coming off a career-high 50-point game in a loss at Sacramento on Saturday night, which came six days after he tied his previous career best of 47.

Even with those performances the Nuggets has dropped two straight and would like to avoid a third against one of the title contenders. Denver is playing short-handed in the backcourt, which is one reason Jokic carried the offense on Saturday.

“More impressive than the 50 points, the 12 assists and the eight rebounds was his approach, his mindset, his leadership,” Denver coach Michael Malone said after Saturday’s loss. “He knew we were undermanned. He understood how important this game was. Nikola goes out and does his job. He doesn’t care. We lost the game, that’s all he’s going to care about.”

The Nuggets were without guards Gary Harris (adductor strain), Jamal Murray (left knee), P.J. Dozier (hamstring) and Facundo Campazzo (right knee) in Sacramento, which meant more playing time for rookies Markus Howard and RJ Hampton. The two might see extended time Monday if Murray stays sidelined.

Murray, Harris and Campazzo are considered day-to-day. If they cannot play, Hampton has shown he can handle the increased time, especially on the defense end.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been considered like a defensive specialist or anything,” Hampton said Saturday. “I feel like I’ve always been capable of it. I feel like there’s two positions in basketball — on the court and off the court. If coach needs me to play defense, that’s what I’m going to do.”

The Bucks have a healthier lineup and have won four straight after posting back-to-back victories at Cleveland. Like Jokic, Antetokounmpo leads his team in scoring, rebounds and assists, and has a strong supporting cast as well. The next step for him is reaching the NBA Finals and winning a title, and Monday can serve as a measuring stick.

Milwaukee is 9-40 all-time in games played in Denver and lost both matchups last season, the second coming just before the pandemic put the NBA on a pause last March. The Bucks are looking forward to seeing a different opponent.

“I’m just pleased with the way the guys executed and played,” Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said after Saturday’s win. “Back-to-back, same team, those are never easy.”

Monday’s matchup is the start of a four-game Western Conference road trip for Milwaukee, which is 3-4 this season against the West. Denver starts a four-game homestand, with the first two against the Eastern Conference.

The Nuggets will host an Eastern Conference team for the first time this season and are 3-1 against the East. They were scheduled to host Detroit last week but it was postponed due to health and protocol issues with the Pistons.

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MILWAUKEE vs CLEVELAND
When: 2/6/2021 8:05 PM
Where:

TV: 8:05 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: CLEVELAND , MILWAUKEE

Oddsmakers currently have the Milwaukee listed as 10.5 point favorites versus Cleveland, while the game’s total is sitting at 229.5.

Milwaukee Bucks (14-8, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-13, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Cleveland; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Milwaukee is looking to build upon its three-game win streak with a victory over Cleveland.

The Cavaliers are 2/3 against Central Division teams. Cleveland is 8-4 in games when scoring 100 or more points.

The Bucks are 11-5 in Eastern Conference play. Milwaukee ranks third in the NBA with 27.3 assists per game led by Khris Middleton averaging 5.9.

The teams square off for the second game in a row.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cedi Osman leads the Cavaliers with 2.3 made 3-pointers, and is averaging 12.4 points while shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc. Andre Drummond is averaging 15.1 points and 11.2 rebounds while shooting 39.9% over the last 10 games for Cleveland.

Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks averaging 27.3 points and is adding 11.2 rebounds. Middleton is averaging 19.1 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 50.6% over the last 10 games for Milwaukee.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 4-6, averaging 109.4 points, 43.8 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 7.9 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.4 points on 48.3% shooting.

Bucks: 6-4, averaging 121.2 points, 51 rebounds, 28.2 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.8 points on 46.1% shooting.

INJURIES: Cavaliers: Collin Sexton: day to day (neck), Larry Nance Jr.: out (wrist), Matthew Dellavedova: out (concussion), Kevin Love: out (calf).

Bucks: None listed.

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INDIANA vs MILWAUKEE
When: 2/3/2021 7:00 PM
Where:

TV: 7:00 PM
LINE: -8
PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE , INDIANA

Oddsmakers currently have the MILWAUKEE listed as -8 point favorites versus the INDIANA, while the game’s total is sitting at 233.

The Milwaukee Bucks will be the more rested team when they host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

While the Pacers were blowing out the Memphis Grizzlies 134-116 on Tuesday in Indianapolis, the Bucks had a day off after a 134-106 win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.

The clubs will meet for the first time this season after the Bucks topped the Pacers 3-1 in last year’s season series by dominating the two home games.

The teams were in line to meet in the first round of last year’s playoffs until the fourth-seeded Pacers were swept by the fifth-seeded Miami Heat in the first round.

Miami then shocked Milwaukee, the winningest team in the regular season a year ago, in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Bucks were firing on all cylinders Monday to tip off their two-game homestand. Six Milwaukee players scored 13 or more points, with Jrue Holiday (22) and Bobby Portis (21) leading the way.

The win allowed Milwaukee to snap a two-game losing streak. The Bucks followed another two-game skid earlier in January with a two-game winning streak.

The Bucks have had three-, four- and two-game winning streaks since Jan. 1.

Bryn Forbes, brought in to Milwaukee this season to help fill the void left behind by Malcolm Brogdon’s departure a year earlier, noted Monday that using the Pacers as a building block in a winning streak won’t be easy.

“Honestly, I think people get up for this game (against) the Bucks,” he said. “They’re No. 1 in the East for the last couple of years, so I think people are locked in when they play us. Every team is bringing their best when they play us, honestly.

“Every team is ready to go when they play us and maybe they are a little more focused and locked in than they are on some other nights and maybe just trying to prove a point.”

While the Pacers will complete a back-to-back set Tuesday, they benefitted from the one-sided nature of the Monday game, not extending any player past 35 minutes.

Domantas Sabonis had 32 points and 13 rebounds in the win, while Brogdon warmed up for a meeting with his former teammates with 23 points and seven assists.

Brogdon, who left the Bucks for a four-year, $85 million deal in a sign-and-trade after the 2019 season, was more of a ball distributor than a scorer in three head-to-head matchups with his old team last season. He averaged just 10.3 points but also 8.3 assists in those games.

Milwaukee won its two home games last season against Indiana by an average of 23.5 points.

Brogdon averaged 16.5 points and 7.1 assists last season for the Pacers. He has bumped the scoring up to 22.9 this year while keeping the assists (7.0) basically the same.

Brogdon credits the unselfish Sabonis for his boost in scoring.

“I think he and (the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic) are the best passing bigs in the league,” he said. “He’s very versatile. He’s an All-Star.”

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PORTLAND vs MILWAUKEE
When: 2/1/2021 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: -10
PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE , PORTLAND

Oddsmakers currently have the MILWAUKEE listed as -10 point favorites versus the PORTLAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 235.

The Milwaukee Bucks attempt to break out their sudden slumber when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.

The Bucks have dropped two straight games and four of their last six. Their defense has been missing in action the past two games and now must prevent Portland star Damian Lillard from causing too much damage.

Milwaukee gave up 21 3-pointers in each contest as it fell 131-126 at the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday and 126-114 at the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. The points allowed against New Orleans matched a season worst that occurred in a 131-118 home loss to the Utah Jazz on Jan. 8.

Lillard is likely salivating over his chance to face the Bucks after scoring a season-high 44 points in Saturday’s 123-122 road win over the Chicago Bulls. He drained a season-best eight 3-pointers, including the game winner as time expired.

Not surprisingly, Milwaukee’s two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is calling on his teammates to clamp down on the perimeter.

“Have pride, keep your man in front of you, don’t allow them to have easy looks,” Antetokounmpo said after the loss to Charlotte. “Don’t allow them to get easily to the free-throw line. Rebound the ball. Make sure when we miss or make shots, you got to box out.

“The little things add up in 48 minutes and then you’ll have the result of being good on defense.”

Antetokounmpo had 34 points, matched his season best of 18 rebounds and recorded nine assists in the setback. After the contest, he was dealing with a sore knee after bumping into Charlotte’s Miles Bridges with approximately seven minutes remaining.

“I think he kind of just knocked knees, so knee-to-knee,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “He was obviously able to play. We’ll see how he feels, see how sore he is and hope for the best”

Milwaukee will be aiming to add to its recent success against the Trail Blazers that includes victories in three straight meetings and seven of the past eight.

Lillard will be doing his best to torment the Bucks after reaching the 40-point mark for the second time this season. He is averaging 34 points over the past eight games.

Lillard hit a 37-foot, 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds left against the Bulls in addition to the game-winner as Portland overcame a five-point deficit with 11.5 seconds left.

Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts said Lillard refuses to lose.

“I know what Dame is going to give you,” Stotts said. “He’s going to give his effort. He never quits. No matter how far we are down he always believes we have a chance to win, and that attitude, that confidence is infectious.”

The victory felt like a big one to Lillard as the club lost starters CJ McCollum (foot) and Jusuf Nurkic (wrist) earlier this month and Portland is still adjusting to their absences.

“We’ve had some tough losses lately,” Lillard said. “We’ve been dealing with injuries and a lot of tough situations for our team, but we’ve been able to battle and stay together.

“We haven’t made excuses. We haven’t felt bad for ourselves. Each guy that has been put into the rotation that wasn’t in the rotation before has stepped up and been ready to play. And without those guys being prepared and having the mentality that they’ve had, we wouldn’t be in the position for a game-winner to happen or to win any of these games.”

One of those players is Gary Trent Jr., who is averaging 21 points over the past three games while going 15 of 32 from 3-point range. Trent scored 18 against the Bulls.

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MILWAUKEE vs CHARLOTTE
When: 1/30/2021 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: 8
PREDICTION: CHARLOTTE , MILWAUKEE

Oddsmakers currently have the CHARLOTTE listed as 8 point favorites versus the MILWAUKEE, while the game’s total is sitting at 230.5.

There was reason to marvel at many of the offensive contributions for the Charlotte Hornets in their Friday night victory.

However, there is bound to be extra attention placed on the defensive end for Charlotte’s Saturday night encounter with the Milwaukee Bucks.

“The same mindset we had (Friday),” Hornets guard Devonte’ Graham said of the game plan. “We have to come out and play defense. The last thing we have to worry about is offense. We have to get stops, especially against those guys.”

The Bucks will arrive in Charlotte licking their wounds a bit after a 131-126 road loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

The Hornets came up with all sorts of answers while topping the Indiana Pacers 108-105 on Friday, avenging a loss to the same team two nights earlier.

Charlotte made key plays down the stretch after a double-digit lead had vanished. Hornets coach James Borrego liked the poise his team demonstrated.

“We’ve grown in that area,” he said. “I think we’re one of the better clutch teams in the NBA.”

While the Hornets were winning, the Bucks stormed back from a 29-point hole before falling at New Orleans. A 44-point third quarter helped Milwaukee trim the deficit to four points in the closing seconds.

Still, the outcome snapped Milwaukee’s two-game winning streak. The Bucks have yet to exceed four straight victories this season, so they are still looking to sustain a good roll.

“You see the record last year, you want to continue that and even make it better,” said Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, who joined the team during the offseason. “There is some pressure in that way.”

The Bucks might have some defensive concerns. The Pelicans, who posted a season-high point total, compiled a franchise-record-tying 21 3-point baskets against Milwaukee’s defense.

Charlotte found the long-range touch on Friday, something that made the Hornets more difficult to defend.

“When we make 16 threes, we’re a different team,” Borrego said. “Obviously, you have to make shots in this league to win.”

Perhaps most important for the Hornets was a strong output from reserves, something that could come in handy with the rapid-fire nature of their schedule.

“We need that every night,” Borrego said. “Gordon (Hayward) goes 4-for-12 and scores 11 and we find a way to beat the Pacers.”

The Hornets haven’t won consecutive games since a four-game winning streak ended Jan. 11. They need to rekindle good vibes with the quick turnaround.

“Having that momentum going into (the Bucks game) will definitely help,” Graham said.

Charlotte has enjoyed steady improvement during the past week from Cody Zeller. The center returned to action Jan. 22 following an absence stemming from a broken hand sustained in the season opener.

“I just try to make a difference out there,” Zeller said.

Borrego said: “He’s getting his legs. He’s looking more comfortable.”

Just how well the Bucks respond from the game in New Orleans will be important. There were several emotional factors, including a crowd in New Orleans on Friday night despite the pandemic.

For Holiday, the contest was a return to the arena where he once played for the Pelicans, so he’ll have to refocus for the visit to Charlotte. He is still trying to adjust to his new team.

“It has been a challenge,” Holiday said. “That’s definitely part of the fun.”

The Hornets have hit a particularly busy stretch, as they will play their fifth game in eight nights. The Bucks will be ending a three-game, four-day road trip.

Milwaukee defeated the Hornets in all three meetings last season, including a Jan. 24, 2020, matchup in Paris.

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ATLANTA vs MILWAUKEE
When: 1/24/2021 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: -9
PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE , ATLANTA

Oddsmakers currently have the MILWAUKEE listed as -9 point favorites versus the ATLANTA, while the game’s total is sitting at 230.

The Atlanta Hawks have won three straight games against teams with poor records. Now they get to test their confidence against a contender when they travel to Milwaukee for a game against the Bucks on Sunday.

Atlanta’s surge includes two wins against Minnesota and one against Detroit, a pair of three-win teams who are last in their respective conferences. The Hawks have pushed their record over .500, lead the Southeast Division and are sixth in the Eastern Conference.

But Milwaukee is a veteran team — its starting lineup averages nine years of experience — and the Bucks are tied for second place in the Eastern Conference, even though they’ve lost two in a row.

Milwaukee has won four straight games against Atlanta and swept last season’s series 3-0. The last meeting came on Dec. 27, 2019, when the Bucks won 112-86, despite playing without starters Giannis Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe.

Atlanta defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-98 on Friday, as Trae Young scored 43 and Clint Capela had his first career triple-double.

Young has emerged from a mini-shooting slump — 50 points over a three-game stretch — and has scored 81 points over the past two games, upping his average to 25.3 points. Young matched his career high with eight 3-pointers against Minnesota.

“I’ve worked too hard to let a couple games of me not shooting well affect me,” Young said.

Capela has become a force for the Hawks. He had 13 points, 19 rebounds and a career-high 10 blocked shots on Friday and is averaging 14.2 points, 14.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

“Clint is turning himself into a different force defensively and on the glass,” Atlanta coach Lloyd Pierce said. “To back up what he did the other night (27 points, 26 rebounds vs. Detroit) with what he did (Friday), with the 10 blocks and the triple-double is amazing.”

Asked if he’d ever had a triple-double, Capela said, “Yeah, NBA 2K.”

The Hawks were also helped by the return of starters De’Andre Hunter (16.3 points) and Cam Reddish (12.4 points), as well as reserve Danilo Gallinari, from injury. All three were in double figures against Minnesota.

Milwaukee had its game against Washington postponed on Friday night due to continuing COVID issues within the Wizards. The Bucks are coming off a 113-106 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, a game that coach Mike Budenholzer said will help his team in the long run.

“You learn a ton when you play the good teams,” Budenholzer said. “There were stretches (against the Lakers) when we were really good on both ends, but we had a bad stretch where, on both ends of the court, we were not good. We didn’t close well and they made the plays. We’ve got to do a better job making those shots tougher.”

Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks with 27 points and 10.3 rebounds; he had 25 points and 12 rebounds against the Lakers. In 22 career games against Atlanta, he has averaged 20.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

Khris Middleton averages 21.9 points for a Milwaukee club that ranks third in the league with 119.5 points per game. Jrue Holiday averages 16.1 and has scored 22 points in back-to-back games.

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MILWAUKEE vs BROOKLYN
When: 1/18/2021 7:30 PM
Where:

TV: 7:30 PM
LINE: 2.5
PREDICTION: BROOKLYN , MILWAUKEE

Oddsmakers currently have the BROOKLYN listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the MILWAUKEE, while the game’s total is sitting at 240.

As far as debuts go, James Harden experienced one with the Brooklyn Nets that will be remembered for some time.

After getting a triple-double in his first game with the Nets, Harden has fans curious if he can produce an impressive sequel Monday night when the Milwaukee Bucks visit Brooklyn for a nationally televised contest between teams many think will meet in the Eastern Conference finals.

Harden made his debut Saturday when the Nets posted a 122-115 victory over the Orlando Magic to get their season-high third straight win. While Kevin Durant scored a season-high 42 points, it was Harden’s performance that had the NBA buzzing.

Two days after the Nets officially acquired him from Houston in a massive deal that cost them Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert, Harden started slowly and wound up with 32 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds in 40 minutes.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 14 assists broke the franchise record set by Kevin Porter in 1977 for most assists in a Nets debut. Harden posted his 47th career triple-double and became the seventh player to get a triple-double in his debut with a new team.

“Man it was incredible,” Durant said. “You could see him trying to figure out the best way to play. Early on I felt like we were all overpassing, trying to make everybody comfortable. Then he just got into his mode of being aggressive to score and that opened up the whole game for all of us.”

Harden’s dynamic performance came in a game where the Nets shot 53.8 percent and hit 16 3-pointers. It also came as Kyrie Irving missed his sixth straight game due to personal reasons and health and safety protocols.

It is unclear when Irving will return but it is unlikely to occur Monday, marking the third nationally televised game he has missed. The Nets are 4-3 without Irving this season, while Durant is averaging 34.5 points in four games since returning from missing three games due to protocols.

“Hopefully, we’re close. I can’t really give you a firm update on that. We have to assess that as we go,” coach Steve Nash said of Irving. “We do want to make sure he ramps accordingly so that he’s not susceptible to unnecessary injury and protect him the best we can. But hopefully, it will be a short period of time. That is to be determined, though.”

Milwaukee is on a four-game winning streak with three of those of wins coming by 10 points or fewer. The Bucks also are 7-1 in their past eight games, a stretch where they are averaging 119 points per game.

Milwaukee heads to Brooklyn after getting a 112-109 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points on 14-of-21 shooting but also missed nine of his 10 free throws.

Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.6 points so far but is shooting a career-worst 57.5 percent from the line.

Khris Middleton added 25 points and hit two clutch 3-pointers in the final two-plus minutes after Milwaukee squandered a 14-point lead.

“He’s just a great decision-maker,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said of Middleton. “He knows to take what the defense gives him. If he’s got a shot, he’s an incredible shot-maker, but he’s an incredible playmaker. He’s just a great finisher.”

Milwaukee is 14-3 in the past 17 meetings and has won the past eight meetings in Brooklyn.

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CHICAGO vs MILWAUKEE
When: 1/1/2021 8:00 PM
Where:

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: -14.5
PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE , CHICAGO

Oddsmakers currently have the MILWAUKEE listed as -14.5 point favorites versus the CHICAGO, while the game’s total is sitting at 231.

The championship-hopeful Milwaukee Bucks have lost three of five to open the season. Last season, it took the Bucks nine games to lose for the third time, and before they lost again, they raced to a remarkable 24-3 start.

“We need to be more consistent. We need to be better,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “But I think there’s positives. We’ve played well for big stretches of games. We’ve just got to extend those.”

A new year brings hope for rebirth, and the Bucks’ quest continues Friday against the visiting Chicago Bulls.

Despite squandering a 14-point third-quarter lead Wednesday — and with it the chance to earn a back-to-back road sweep of the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat — the Bucks remain optimistic about a swift bounce-back. After all, they certainly were on the mark against the Heat just 24 hours earlier when they routed them by 47 points.

One night after drilling an NBA-record 29 3-pointers to rout Miami, Milwaukee shot just 16-for-41 from deep in Wednesday’s 119-108 loss.

After entering the game with torrid shooting percentages of 59.2 and 57.6, respectively, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton combined to go 7-for-30 from the floor with 21 points Wednesday. Middleton scored a season-low eight points after going for a team-high 25 Tuesday.

Still, the Bucks remained in the game despite scoring just 17 points in the fourth quarter. Giannis Antekokounmpo tallied a triple-double of 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

“The beauty of this team is even though they were struggling, we were in the game,” Milwaukee’s Donte DiVincenzo said of Wednesday’s 119-108 defeat. “It wasn’t a blowout. We had the lead. We have a deep roster and we have guys who can make plays. Just because one or two guys aren’t making shots, it’s just time for somebody else to step up. We’re not going to harp on if one guy is missing shots, we’re going down the drain. We have a deep team and guys are so unselfish.”

Coming off a sweep of a two-game sweep at the Washington Wizards that concluded with Thursday’s 133-130 win, the Bulls can attest to depth of their own. Chicago had seven scorers in double figures in both games, a feat that especially stood out Thursday, as the team was without four players due to the NBA’s health and safety protocol amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan said late scratches Ryan Arcidiacono, Chandler Hutchison, Lauri Markkanen and Tomas Satoransky would not travel to Milwaukee with the team.

“My guess is, yes, it’s going to go on here for a period of time,” Donovan said. “How long? I’m really unsure of that. I think the daily testing helps bring some clarity to where guys are at.”

Otto Porter Jr. (28 points, 12 rebounds) and Coby White (16 points, 10 assists) posted double-doubles for the Bulls.

Reserve Daniel Gafford, who contributed 15 points, said the key for the Bulls’ bench was “really just staying ready. Being patient. Being professional.”

After playing just once at Fiserv Forum in the first week of the season, the Bucks will begin a five-game homestand Friday.

“Got to figure ourselves out as a team,” Antetokounmpo said. “We’re going to be consistent. … At the end of the day, we’re going to play our game, going to find open shots and hope they fall.”

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MILWAUKEE vs MIAMI
When: 12/29/2020 7:35 PM
Where:

TV: 7:35 PM
LINE: 4.5
PREDICTION: MIAMI , MILWAUKEE

Oddsmakers currently have the MIAMI listed as 4.5 point favorites versus the MILWAUKEE, while the game’s total is sitting at 222.5.

The Milwaukee Bucks, coming off an embarrassing loss, will visit the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.

Miami may be without star Jimmy Butler, who is doubtful with a sprained right ankle.

Milwaukee, which has been the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs in each of the past two seasons, lost in blowout fashion to the New York Knicks on Sunday night, 130-110.

Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo (27 points, 13 rebounds) and Khris Middleton (22 points) were productive against the Knicks, but it wasn’t enough as New York shot 54.1 percent from the floor and made 16-of-27 3-pointers (59.3 percent).

“We all know we have to be better,” Bucks forward Bobby Portis said after losing to the Knicks, who have not made the playoffs since 2013.

The Bucks, now with two losses in their first three games, would love to get back on track against the Heat, who knocked them out of the playoffs last season with a five-game upset in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Miami’s issue on Tuesday figures to be the status of Butler’s right ankle. Butler missed the second half of Miami’s home-opening win against the New Orleans Pelicans, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra announced Monday afternoon that his star forward is doubtful for the Bucks.

“We’ll continue to get him treatment,” Spoelstra said. “Each situation is different. You want to treat each injury with the most intelligent response.”

Butler is averaging 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds — numbers that have been held down due to the injury. Still, he leads the team in steals (4.0) and is second in assists (6.0).

If Butler is unable to play, there will be more of a focus on Bam Adebayo, who leads the team in scoring (21.0) and rebounds (7.5).

But the Heat also have several other ways of beating teams, a list that includes the long-range shooting of Duncan Robinson (52.6 percent on 3-pointers), Meyers Leonard (60.0 percent) and Tyler Herro (off to a slow start at 33.3 percent).

Defensively, the Heat added Avery Bradley to the team this season, and he has already made an impact with his relentless pressure. Butler and Adebayo also factor in Miami’s defense in a significant way.

Finally, there’s the Heat bench, a mostly veteran group led by point guard Goran Dragic, who is second on the team in scoring (19.0) and tops in assists (8.0). Bradley, Andre Iguodala and rookie Precious Achiuwa (9.5 scoring average) are other key members of Miami’s bench brigade.

Milwaukee’s reserves are led by Portis, who is averaging 10.0 points and 7.7 rebounds, rookie Jordan Nwora (8.0 scoring average) and D.J. Augustin (7.5 points).

Augustin, who was with the Orlando Magic the past four years, is one of Milwaukee’s biggest offseason additions. The Bucks also added Jrue Holiday, who spent the past seven years with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Holiday is averaging 15.9 points and 6.4 assists for his career. This season, he is averaging 15.0 points and 4.7 assists as he makes the adjustment to playing with the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo, the two-time reigning MVP of the league, is averaging 25.7 points and 13.0 rebounds. He has made four straight All-Star teams and is the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Middleton, an All-Star in each of the past two years, is leading Milwaukee in scoring (26.7) and assists (6.0).

The key for the Bucks, however, will be getting more secondary scoring beyond their two stars while also doing a much better job on defense.

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