The Milwaukee Bucks, fresh off a win over the Indiana Pacers, have a solid opportunity to win two games in a row for the first time this season when they face the Memphis Grizzlies. Would they be tipped to win? Maybe not, but it’s certainly within their capabilities. This will be the first matchup between these teams this season, but the Grizz have posed a headache for the Bucks for a while now, with Milwaukee’s last victory coming in 2022. Merry Christmas, folks. Hopefully, some good vibes can power
this Bucks team to greener pastures entering the new year.
Where We’re At
As I said in the intro, the Bucks finally getting a road win (and a win in general) should take some weight off their shoulders. The Porter/Rollins combo finally got humming on all cylinders against Indy (thanks to Doc actually playing Rollins the minutes he deserves); hopefully that production continues moving forward. Despite their putrid record, Milwaukee remains one of the best shooting teams in the league, ranking second in effective field goal percentage. If they can just improve some on the margins, they should be able to become much more competitive. And just quietly, the Bucks have been making strides in key areas, such as ranking seventh on defence over the last five games.
It’s been a very mixed season for the Grizzlies, who sit at 14-16. They started out losing nine of their first 10, missing the inside presence of Zach Edey, their mammoth centre. When Edey returned, they won most of their games. Unfortunately, the big man is out yet again, and they have lost two of their last three, including to the Wizards. Importantly, Ja Morant has also been really disappointing this season, shooting 35.7% from the field and just 19.4% from three. So, with all that said, the Bucks have a chance to catch this team in a bad spot if they come ready to play.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Giannis (calf) and Taurean Prince (neck) are both out. Gary Trent Jr. (calf) is questionable.
For the Grizzlies, Brandon Clarke, Zach Edey, Ty Jerome, John Konchar, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Vince Williams Jr. are all out. Ja Morant and Cedric Coward are both questionable.
Player To Watch
Santi Aldama is coming off a 37-7-5 performance against Utah. Aldama shoots 55.1% against the Bucks in his career, just one of seven teams against whom he shoots over 50%. With all of Memphis’ injuries, this seems like a perfect opportunity for Aldama to get loose; the Bucks must monitor him closely.
How To Watch
FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.
