After being blown out by 45 points to the tanking Brooklyn Nets, one would think the Milwaukee Bucks have nowhere to go but up tonight when they face the Toronto Raptors at home. The season series currently sits at 1-1, with the Bucks taking the first matchup, and the Raps’ taking the second—both played in The Six. One thing is for sure, though: it’s good to be back watching NBA basketball on a consistent basis after the long breaks from the NBA Cup.
Where We’re At
As mentioned in the intro, the Bucks are in a rough
patch right now. Their overall record since the 3-2 start is obviously poor, but losing that badly to the freakin’ Nets in their last game was inexcusable. Some might call the Brooklyn drubbing confusing, seeing as they beat the Celtics just one game prior; however, we should acknowledge that Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis had magnet-ball games against the Cs, which probably masked a lot of things.
The Raptors are also going through something of an early-season funk. After a blazing start in which they won 13 of 14 games, Toronto has lost six of its past eight contests. In their past three games, they went down to the Celtics and Knicks and beat the Heat on Monday. As our friends at Raptors HQ pointed out after their loss to New York in the NBA Cup quarterfinal, there is no reason to panic about the Raptors. They have been dealing with injuries to key guys (just now getting a few back), and have shown the ability to play extremely well and extremely poorly; within this team sits a good mix of youth and vet savvy that I believe will bode well for the immediate and long-term future.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Giannis (calf) is out, as is Taurean Prince (neck). Cole Anthony (neck), AJ Green (shoulder), and Kyle Kuzma (illness) are all questionable.
As for the Raptors, RJ Barrett (knee) is the only assured absence. Jakob Poeltl (back) is probable.
Player To Watch
Let’s go with Kevin Porter Jr. After a string of electric performances in which he shot the ball uber-efficiently, KPJ came back down to earth against the Nets, dropping just five points on 2/13 shooting (with six giveaways to boot). Without Giannis, they really need Porter’s creation; can he give them something better tonight?
How To Watch
FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.
