Feeling a holiday snub, Milwaukee Bucks to face Brooklyn Nets next
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton shoots against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Centre.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MILWAUKEE – After having Christmas Day off for the first time in the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 2017, the Milwaukee Bucks will face the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Dec 26 (Dec 27, Singapore time).
Milwaukee players expressed surprise after the NBA Cup champions were not selected to play on the holiday.
After all, the Bucks were the No. 3 seeds in the Eastern Conference last season and boast one of the league’s marquee players in Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“A lot of teams play on Christmas,” Bucks centre Brook Lopez said.
“They have a lot of games on Christmas. So, yeah, I do think it’s disrespectful, but I don’t make the schedule. I don’t know how that happened.”
Looking past that, Milwaukee now turn their attention to the struggling Nets (11-18), who have lost eight of their last 10.
The Bucks won for the sixth time in their last seven games on Dec 23, when Khris Middleton and Lopez scored 21 points apiece in a 112-91 road victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Milwaukee (16-12) had lost eight of their first 10 games this season, but they have returned to form in recent weeks.
Their last two victories – against the Washington Wizards and Chicago – came without both Antetokounmpo (back spasms, illness) and Damian Lillard (right calf strain, illness).
“It just tells you where we are now and where we were,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said.
“I mean, early in the year, we wouldn’t have won either game.
“Now we’re not only winning games, we’re winning with a cushion.
“I thought defensively (on Dec 23 against Chicago) it was maybe one of our best defensive efforts.”
Antetokounmpo and Lillard may not be available to face the Nets. With both sidelined against the Bulls, forward Bobby Portis Jr also stepped in to provide 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
Milwaukee are seeking their second straight victory over the Nets after winning 118-113 in Brooklyn on Dec 8.
Antetokounmpo finished with 34 points, 11 rebounds and four assists to help the Bucks rally from a 12-point deficit late in the third quarter.
Victories have been sparse of late for the injury-plagued Nets, who were outscored 52-38 in the second half of a 110-95 loss to the hosts Miami Heat on Dec 23.
Cameron Johnson and Noah Clowney scored 19 points apiece to lead Brooklyn.
“I’m just trying to contribute to the team to win,” Johnson said.
“You know, that’s my job. That’s what I want to do.
“Nobody in here wants to lose everything. It sucks.
“So I’m just trying to do whatever I can for our team to win.”
Cam Thomas (strained left hamstring) and Ziaire Williams (sprained left knee) have been ruled out of the game, while Dorian Finney-Smith (left calf contusion) is listed as questionable.
The injuries have resulted in more playing time for Clowney, a second-year forward playing in multiple positions in his last three games.
“Just his versatility of playing the five at times, but also playing whatever – one-through-four, or two-through-four – that just allows him to be on the court,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said.
“He’s really helping himself, but most importantly helping the team.” REUTERS
