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GAME PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Brooklyn is amidst a four-game losing streak, including a recent loss to the Spurs. Now, the Nets are playing against the Milwaukee Bucks, the second-best team in the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks are a challenging matchup for the Nets, especially since they want to bounce back from a defeat to the Celtics in the first leg of their back-to-back. Brooklyn is motivated to win this game, but the Nets are heavy underdogs.
Milwaukee is a tremendous team to play against
Even if the Bucks might miss Giannis Antetokounmpo for this game, they are still superb. Damian Lillard had a rock-solid performance against Boston, scoring a game-high 32 points. Bobby Portis Jr. stepped in for Giannis against the Celtics, as the backup big man posted a huge 24-point and 15-rebound double-double.
Khris Middleton is also a significant player on the roster, as the team is ramping him up just in time for the postseason. He had a decent performance against Boston, posting a stat line of 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
The Nets will have trouble defending Lillard, as he’s finding his form as a superstar guard. Mikal Bridges will be the standout defender for him, but the best defender to match up against him is Dame’s former teammate Dennis Smith Jr.
The uber-athletic guard is a superb defender who knows how Dame plays. While Dennis Schroder is the designated starter, expect Smith Jr. to play heavy minutes for the Nets.
On the offensive end, Coach Kevin Ollie would want to see Mikal and Cameron Thomas score plenty of points again to counter Milwaukee’s tremendous output.
Injury Report
Brooklyn won’t have Dorian Finney-Smith due to a sore left ankle. He has been dealing with it for the past few games, but this upcoming game is confirmed to be a game he’ll be sitting out. Starting center Nic Claxton is questionable due to an illness, which might lead to Noah Clowney getting called up from the Long Island Nets to help support Day’Ron Sharpe.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status is still unclear, considering he sat out the first leg of the back-to-back due to an ailing hamstring. The rest of the Bucks are healthy, just in time for the season’s final stretch.
