Wizards at Bucks
The Washington Wizards allowed 152 points to the Eastern Conference-worst Atlanta Hawks on Sunday and now have to figure out a way to stop the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks, who lead the NBA in scoring average at 119.3 points, will try to push their latest winning streak to nine straight when they host the Wizards on Monday.
The Wizards allow opponents an NBA-high 120.6 points and let the Hawks go off at 58.1 percent from the floor in Sunday's 152-133 setback - their fifth loss in the last seven games. Washington does its best to compete at the offensive end and got 40 points on 12-of-22 shooting from star guard Bradley Beal in the loss - his third straight 35-plus effort. The Bucks have been idle since knocking off the Charlotte Hornets 116-103 in Paris on Friday to become the first team to reach 40 victories. "It's a good win," Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. "It was exciting for us to play in Paris in front of a great crowd, a great arena. Really a great week for the Milwaukee Bucks organization."
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Washington, FS Wisconsin
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (15-30): Beal is getting scoring help from reserve forward Troy Brown Jr., who scored 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting in Sunday's setback to reach double figures for the eighth time in 13 games this month. Brown was one of four reserves to score in double figures in the loss as fellow forward Davis Bertans fought his way to 12 points on 3-of-12 from the floor. Bertans is averaging 14.6 points in eight games since returning from a quad injury that cost him nearly three weeks but is shooting 37.5 percent in that span.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (40-6): Milwaukee is hoping to avoid the fatigue that found the team early in Paris, when they struggled to find a rhythm in the first half. "It was almost like we didn't play for four (days) and we practiced once - I practiced once - before the game and, you know, it's kind of hard to get in rhythm," Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters. "Once guys were able to find me and I was getting my rhythm the game was a lot easier for me." Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points - matching his season average - and added 16 rebounds on Friday for his fourth consecutive double-double and league-leading 38th on the season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bucks C Robin Lopez (illness) did not make the trip to Europe but is expected back on Tuesday.
2. Wizards SG Jordan McRae suffered a sprained ankle in Sunday's contest and is day-to-day.
3. Milwaukee took two of the three meetings last season, averaging 139.5 points in the two victories.