Washington Wizards vs. Milwaukee Bucks Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 21st 2024
Preview and Prediction
The Milwaukee Bucks will aim to bounce back from a lopsided defeat as they prepare to face the Washington Wizards on Saturday night in the second game of a back-to-back series.
In their previous game, the Bucks suffered a 124-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. Despite a strong performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who recorded 33 points and 14 rebounds, the team struggled to keep up with the Cavaliers and trailed by 18 points at halftime. Additionally, the Bucks were missing Damian Lillard due to a right calf strain.
According to Bucks coach Doc Rivers, the team was lacking energy and cohesion in their game against the Cavaliers. He emphasized the need for better ball movement and organization in future games. However, he also acknowledged that there was not much to learn from the defeat and advised his team to quickly move on from it.
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Rivers also expressed concern about the tight turnaround for the Bucks, who had just won the NBA Cup on Tuesday. He hopes that the league will address the issue of a short window between the championship game and the start of the new season in the future.
The Wizards, on the other hand, played their last game on Thursday, defeating the Charlotte Hornets 123-114. Jordan Poole and Malcolm Brogdon led the team with 27 and 25 points respectively, helping the Wizards secure only their second win in their last 21 games.
Head coach Brian Keefe credited the return of veterans Brogdon and Corey Kispert from injuries as a major factor in the team's victory. He highlighted their efficiency on the court and the balance they brought to the team's offense.
Poole has been the top performer for the Wizards this season, averaging 20.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Jonas Valanciunas leads the team in rebounds with an average of 7.6 per game.
However, as a team, the Wizards rank near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories. They tied their franchise-worst 16-game losing streak earlier this season and are currently flirting with the NBA's worst-ever point differential at -14.8.
On the injury front, the Wizards were without Kyle Kuzma in their last game due to a rib ailment. His availability for Saturday's game has not been announced. The Bucks, on the other hand, are expected to be without Lillard, who did not travel with the team to Cleveland due to his calf strain.
When asked about Lillard's injury, Rivers stated that he was unsure of the severity but that the team would take a cautious approach. Lillard, who is averaging 25.7 points and 7.5 assists per game, is a crucial player for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo leads the team in scoring with an average of 32.7 points per game.
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This will be the second of three meetings between the two teams this season, with the Bucks winning the first matchup 124-114 on November 30th. In that game, Antetokounmpo had a stellar performance with a triple-double of 42 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Poole was the top performer for the Wizards with 31 points and seven assists.
Washington Wizards vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 43 points, Eric Bledsoe added 22 points and 11 assists and the Milwaukee Bucks routed the visiting Washington Wizards 148-129 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight win.
Antetokounmpo made 17 of 21 field goal attempts, including 3 of 3 from 3-point range as Milwaukee beat the Wizards for the second time in less than a week.
The Bucks, who shot 60.2 percent (56 of 93) and made 19 of 30 3-pointers, have won 10 of their last 11.
Bradley Beal scored 30 for the Wizards, who allowed a season-high point total in losing their third straight. Thomas Bryant had 26 points and 14 rebounds for
Washington while Tomas Satoransky had 16 points and 10 assists.
Beal, 25, became the youngest player in NBA history to make 1,000 3-pointers.
Washington committed 23 turnovers that led to 36 Milwaukee points.
One day after learning that star point guard John Wall will be out at least another 12 months after rupturing his Achilles tendon, the Wizards played without Otto Porter Jr. According to reports, the Wizards are sending Porter to the Chicago Bulls in a trade involving Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker.
Milwaukee led by 20 at halftime, but the Wizards chipped away in the third quarter and trailed by nine after Jeff Green's two free throws with 3:37 left in the third quarter.
Washington, which trailed by 13 to start the fourth quarter, scored six straight points to pull within 120-113. The Bucks responded and Bledsoe's dunk with 8:00 remaining capped a 13-0 run that put the Bucks up by 20 points.
The Wizards led 29-28 after Beal's dunk with 3:58 left in the first quarter, but Khris Middleton converted a 3-point play that started the Bucks on a 16-1 run capped by D.J. Wilson's dunk with 53.5 seconds left in the quarter. By the time it was over the Bucks led 50-35.
It was just the second 50-point first quarter in the NBA this season.