The Milwaukee Bucks head back out on the road as they begin a three-game trip against the host Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.
Milwaukee (41-34) comes in having just snapped a four-game losing skid with a 133-123 win over the Phoenix Suns at home on Tuesday.
With Damian Lillard still out, Giannis Antetokounmpo led with a dominant 37-point, 11-assist effort in a game that featured Milwaukee setting a new franchise record by shooting 68.9 percent from the field. It marked the NBA’s highest shooting percentage in a game since 1998.
“We’re so close to being an incredible offensive team. We shot 70 percent in the first half the other night, we shoot 68.9 tonight,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “If we can just rebound the ball and take care of the ball, we have a chance to break out and make a hell of a run here, we really do.”
Meanwhile, Philadelphia (23-53) has struggled in what was supposed to be a promising season. The losing streak is up to nine after the 76ers fell to the Knicks in New York 105-91 on Tuesday.
Philadelphia has not won two consecutive games since January and has lost 26 of its last 30 contests.
“One of the biggest challenges with this group right now is to get everyone to make the right play,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. “I think these guys need to help each other create offense more than trying to take on the world.”
Quentin Grimes led Philadelphia with 26 points and has been the Sixers’ steady force offensively of late, scoring more than 20 points in 12 of the past 15 games.
The injury report is extensive for Philadelphia. Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (adductor) are out the rest of the season along with Jared McCain (knee) and likely Eric Gordon (wrist).
Tyrese Maxey (finger) practiced Friday and is considered day-to-day. Guerschon Yabusele (knee) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) missed Tuesday’s game and Andre Drummond (toe) will remain out as well.
Maxey leads Philadelphia with 26.3 points, 6.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game this season in 52 games. Oubre Jr. paces the 76ers with just 6.1 rebounds a game.
For the Bucks, no update as of yet on Lillard (deep vein thrombosis) while Jericho Sims (thumb) continues to miss time. AJ Green (shoulder) has missed the last two games.
Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks with 30.4 points and 11.8 boards per game. With Lillard likely out, Anteteokounmpo also stands as the team’s assist leader at 6.0 per contest. Ryan Rollins has also emerged of late, averaging 17.5 points over the past four games.
Once this three-game road trip is over for Milwaukee, Bobby Portis will be eligible to return from his suspension to play the final four games of the regular season as well as the postseason.
The Bucks have a chance to sweep the season series against Philadelphia for the second consecutive season and win their eighth straight over the 76ers.
The last matchup was the only one in which the trio of Maxey, Embiid and George were able to go. Despite that, the Bucks without Antetokounmpo took care of business and won 135-127 behind 43 points and eight assists from Lillard.
–Field Level Media
