The Milwaukee Bucks will search for improved power and a desired consequence once they go to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night time.
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After shedding 125-96 on Monday in a street recreation in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the Bucks go from taking part in one of many NBA’s finest groups to one of many league’s worst.
The Bucks used a makeshift lineup within the loss at Oklahoma Metropolis, with what coach Doc Rivers known as a fatigued crew. Milwaukee’s shedding streak reached 4 video games.
“My instincts told me to fly them directly to Charlotte ,” Rivers mentioned of a number of starters who did not play. “But that’s a bad look and so I didn’t do that. And didn’t want to waste the owners’ money on fines.”
The Hornets are on a five-game shedding streak and have simply two video games left on a nine-game homestand. They’ve received as soon as throughout the stretch to date.
“I definitely have to figure out how to keep these guys to be a little bit more consistent,” Charlotte coach Charles Lee mentioned.
The Bucks had a five-game string of 30 or extra factors from Giannis Antetokounmpo finish when he sat out Monday with what was listed as proper patella tendinopathy. Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez additionally have been out with accidents, whereas Bobby Portis Jr. didn’t play due to private causes.
Antetokounmpo and Lillard are listed as questionable for Wednesday, whereas Lopez and Portis are anticipated to play.
The largest situation for Milwaukee got here on protection when it surrendered 38 or extra factors in every of the primary three quarters.
If there was a vivid spot for Charlotte in Monday’s 124-114 loss to the NBA-worst Washington Wizards, it got here with the primary profession triple-double for ahead Miles Bridges, who had 24 factors, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.
Charlotte fell behind by 26 factors within the first half and trailed 77-54 on the break in opposition to the Wizards.
“We just can’t wait until teams hit us in the mouth first,” Bridges mentioned. “We’ve got to go out there and play from the jump, play with a lot more pride. … We’ve got nothing to lose. We’ve just got to go out there and play.”
The Hornets are adamant about making higher use of middle Mark Williams, who had a tough first half with three factors and three rebounds. However he ended up with 23 whole factors and 14 rebounds.
“He’s definitely important. Mark is a great player for us,” Hornets guard Nick Smith Jr. mentioned. “Once we get everybody back, I feel like we could definitely use him more.”
The lengthy checklist of accidents continues to affect the Hornets. Josh Okogie has joined the checklist of gamers lacking video games. Guard LaMelo Ball has missed greater than per week of motion, with an replace on his timetable close to.
Within the meantime, the Hornets are counting to search out methods for incremental enhancements.
“Their usual approach to come in and try to get better,” Lee mentioned of the gamers.
Milwaukee’s uncommon lineup Monday yielded few highlights, though AJ Johnson racked up a career-best 13 factors in 29 minutes.
“We used this as a rest day for us,” Rivers mentioned.
Milwaukee misplaced 115-114 on its first journey to Charlotte this season on Nov. 16. In a rematch per week later, the Bucks prevailed 125-119 at house regardless of 50 factors from Ball. Antetokounmpo had 31 factors for the Bucks in that second assembly.
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