Bucks at Hornets
The NBA is making a trip to Europe an annual experience, and the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets will square off on Friday in the league's first contest in Paris. The NBA-best Bucks head overseas with a seven-game winning streak while the stumbling Hornets are losers of seven straight.
Milwaukee brings a European superstar with it in reigning MVP and Greece native Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is second in the NBA in scoring (30 points), fifth in rebounding (12.9) and adds 5.6 assists while shooting 55.4 percent from the floor, and turned in a triple-double in his last game stateside - a 111-98 triumph over the Chicago Bulls on Monday. "I don't know if I'm going to do much," Antetokounmpo told reporters of the trip to Paris. "Probably just looking forward to seeing how many people are going to show up, come to the game, seeing my friends that are going to fly from Greece, going to Disney with Brook (Lopez). ... Just going to explore and find out about their culture." Charlotte is hoping the trip to France will give the team a chance to regroup and come together. "I think it will be good for us," Hornets coach James Borrego told reporters. "Just to get on the road, to bond together, to experience something new. A new culture, new environment. I know that place will be loud and excited and will be a great environment. I'm excited to get on the road with these guys and experience this for the first time."
TIME: 3 p.m. ET. TV: NBA TV, FS Wisconsin, FS Southeast, NBA TV Canada
ABOUT THE BUCKS (39-6): Antetokounmpo won't be the only star on the floor for Milwaukee, which is getting strong play of late from veteran swingman Khris Middleton. The 28-year-old went for 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting in Monday's win and is averaging 23.5 points on 67.1 percent shooting over the last six games as he makes a push for a second consecutive All-Star berth. "Just been able to get to my spots, play within rhythm, letting the game come to me," Middleton told reporters. "Hopefully, I can keep riding this shooting wave out a little bit longer, but it's been great."
ABOUT THE HORNETS (15-30): Charlotte has a France native on the roster in guard Nicolas Batum, who recently reentered the rotation but is averaging 3.4 points on 36.8 percent shooting in 22.8 minutes over the last five games. Point guard Terry Rozier scored 20 or more points in seven of nine games in January but crosses the ocean with a bad taste in his mouth after managing four points and going 0-of-6 from the floor in a 106-83 home loss to Orlando on Monday. Reserve guard Malik Monk went in the other direction in the loss, scoring a team-high 20 points after being held to single digits in eight straight.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bucks C Robin Lopez (illness) sat out the last two games and did not make the trip with the team.
2. Hornets SF Miles Bridges is 7-of-32 from the floor over the last three games.
3. Milwaukee crushed Charlotte 137-96 at home on Nov. 30 as nine players scored in double figures.