Bucks Zone

Gameday preview and injury report: Milwaukee Bucks eye third straight win versus skidding Charlotte Hornets

The Bucks are targeting a third straight win when they host the struggling Hornets Friday night at the Fiserv Forum.
Matthew Dugandzic|
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

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Milwaukee BucksCharlotte Hornets

The Bucks will be looking for a repeat performance against the Hornets after they beat the same Charlotte squad in their first meeting at the Spectrum Center last Dec. 4, 105-96.

Game preview

Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play last time around, but his absence hardly mattered as Bobby Portis, Jordan Nwora, Brook Lopez, and Jevon Carter all scored in double digits and combined for 65 points to lead the Bucks to the nine-point win.

Averaging 32.7 points and 12.1 rebounds a game, Antetokounmpo will surely be the biggest thorn in the side for the Hornets. The 6-foot-11 forward is coming off a 30-point, 21-rebound, 10-assist performance in the Bucks’ 104-101 overtime win in Toronto on Tuesday night. It was the second time this season that Antetokounmpo registered a triple-double.

With 25 wins and 13 losses, the Bucks are seeking a victory that will tighten their grip on the second-seed in the Eastern Conference—Milwaukee heads into tonight's game tied with the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets will also be in action on Friday night as they travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans.

The Bucks have been dominant at home where they are 16-4 this season while the Hornets are on a three-game losing skid and are at the very bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 10-29 record. Charlotte has also dropped 15 of its first 20 road games thus far.

Injury report

Khris Middleton and George Hill will be out once again for the Bucks. Middleton (right knee) missed his 10th straight game in Milwaukee’s close win versus Toronto. Hill (non-COVID illness) also sat out for the fourth straight game on Tuesday night.

Kelly Oubre will be out for the Hornets. He is the team’s leading scorer with 20.2 points per game.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.