After losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, the Bucks get back to make-believe basketball against the Utah Jazz tonight in Salt Lake City. Neither team is officially out of Playoff contention, but let’s not fool ourselves—tonight’s game exists merely to make up the numbers as both sides trudge towards the season’s end and, hopefully, draft lottery respite. The Bucks have played the Jazz once so far this season, winning 113-99 on the back of near triple-doubles from Giannis, Ryan Rollins,
and Ousmane Dieng.
Where We’re At
The Bucks are now 28-40, six-and-a-half games behind the 10th-placed Charlotte Hornets, which is good or bad, depending on how you view things. They’ve won just twice in their last 11 games—to the shamelessly tanking Indiana Pacers and these shamelessly tanking Utah Jazz—which is also good or bad, depending on how you view things. Oh, and Giannis is out for another extended period, which is, you guessed it, good or bad, depending on how you view things. But hey, if you try hard enough, you can see this as a meaningful basketball game and one the Bucks might actually win—all it takes is a little imagination.
The Utah Jazz are in red-hot form, losing four in a row—the seventh time they’ve lost four-or-more consecutive games this season. Two games ago, in a 116-111 loss to the Sacramento Kings—yes, the same we “will never tank” Kings that sit bottom of the Western Conference and are officially eliminated from Playoff contention—the Jazz started C. Williams, B. Sensabaugh, E. Harkless, I. Collier, and A. Garcia. Bet you can’t list all of their first names. Or their positions. Yesterday, against the much “safer” Minnesota Timberwolves (even without Anthony Edwards), regular starters Kyle Filipowski (rest) and Ace Bailey (concussion) returned in a 147-111 blowout. But, hey, at least the Jazz seem to know what they’re doing, which is more than can be said for the Bucks under Doc Rivers, who’ve tried special effects (see scheme) and plot twists (see line-ups), but really need more of an idea.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Giannis (Left Knee; Hyperextension; Bone Bruise) is out (and apparently not happy about it), while Kevin Porter Jr. (Right Knee; Synovitis) and Myles Turner (Injury/Illness – Right Calf; Strain) are questionable, and Kyle Kuzma (Right Elbow; Contusion) is probable.
Having played yesterday, the Jazz’s injury report is not yet submitted—and it’s absolutely anyone’s guess who ends up on it.
Player to Watch
Let’s go with Butters St—, err, Ousmane Dieng. As the newest and youngest member of the Bucks’ core, Dieng has the best chance at saving Imaginationland Bucks fans from more misery—both now and in the longer term. Against the Cavs, he put up a smooth 19 points (including 5/8 threes), five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. It’s not the first time he’s excelled as a Buck either. So, if he booms again tonight—and continues to for the rest of this godforsaken season—you mightn’t have to look toward the future because, my boys (and girls), it might already be here. Imaginaaaaation, imaginaaaaation, imaginaaaaation, imaginaaaaation…
How To Watch
Tune in at 8:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
