The Milwaukee Bucks look like rounding into some form of form simply as 2023 is wrapping up. The Bucks made the most important splash of the low season when traded for Damian Lillard simply as coaching camp was beginning up. It’s taken some time for him develop chemistry with Giannis Antetokoumpo and the remainder of his new teammates after spending his total profession with the Portland Path Blazers, however the fruits of their labor are beginning to present. At 19-7, they presently occupy 2nd place within the Japanese Convention standings and have the third greatest document within the NBA total. Questions and considerations nonetheless stay, a lot of which gained’t be answered till the playoffs roll round, however for now they’re trending in the correct route.
In the meantime, the Spurs took a step again within the improper route their final sport. After snapping their 18-game dropping streak final Friday night time in opposition to the Lakers, San Antonio discovered themselves proper again the place they’d been through the dropping streak with a blowout loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Happening the street isn’t simple for many NBA groups, however any venue has confirmed difficult for these younger Spurs this season. To high it off, they’ll be with out rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama, who’s out with an ankle damage. They’ll want a 110% effort and a prayer to take two steps ahead and get the win tonight at Fiserv Discussion board, the place the Bucks are presently 14-2.
December 19 2023 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: BSSW | Pay attention: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Victor Wembanyama, ankle (OUT), Charles Bassey, out for the 12 months
Bucks Accidents: Malik Beasley, illness (daily), Jae Crowder, current surgical procedure (OUT), TyTy Washington Jr, ankle (daily)
What to look at for
With Wembanyama out tonight with that sore ankle, he’ll miss what was positive to be one more take a look at throughout his rookie season. As a substitute, Antetokoumpo will seemingly placed on a present by himself. The three-point taking pictures remains to be nonexistent and the FT consistency nonetheless comes and goes, however he’s third within the league in scoring with 31 PPG on a ridiculous 62% from the sphere. A 64 level efficiency in opposition to the Indiana Pacers final Wednesday was not solely the very best in a sport but this season, however can also be the very best scoring sport by a single participant in Milwaukee Bucks historical past.
The man who Victor would have stood throughout from through the opening tip, Brook Lopez, would in all probability have been his principal match-up. The 35-year outdated Lopez is definitely tied with Wembanyama for the league-lead in blocks per sport (3.0) and has 19 whole blocks in his final 5 video games, in comparison with 21 for Wemby (!!!).
Damian Lillard had a sluggish begin to his tenure in Milwaukee, particularly along with his shot and conditioning. It appears like he’s rounding into kind although, as December has been a fantastic month for him to date. He’s taking pictures 46/44/90 within the month to associate with 26 factors, 5 rebounds, and almost 8 assists a sport (7.7). He’s coming off a sport Sunday the place he went 11/19 total and 5/8 from past the arc, matching a season-high 39 factors in Milwaukee’s win over the Houston Rockets.
Malaki Branham’s double digit scoring streak continued within the loss to the Pelicans, bringing his present season-long streak to five video games. Can he notch his sixth straight tonight in opposition to the Bucks?
The Spurs made New Orleans, the fifteenth ranked offense within the league based mostly on Offensive effectivity, seem like the 80s Denver Nuggets Sunday afternoon. For comparability, Milwaukee ranks third on this stat with a mark of 121.3. The Spurs will want their Laker sport protection to indicate up on the street tonight if they’re to have any likelihood of slowing the Bucks down. That turns into exponentially tougher with Wembanyama out.
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