Nuggets at Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks aim to stretch their winning streak to 10 games when they host the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Milwaukee has won by 20 or more points on five occasions during the stretch, which is their second-best streak of the season behind a 18-game run from Nov. 10-Dec. 14.
All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable with a right shoulder injury and sat out Tuesday's 151-131 home win over the Washington Wizards. "I guess there's a silver lining coming off the game in Paris (on Jan. 24)," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters afterward. "It's been three or four days since we played and it will be another couple until Friday. So, he gets a good chance for his body to resettle a bit and hopefully his shoulder is in a better place by Friday." Denver has won nine of its last 13 games and notched a 106-100 home win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday despite being without point guard Jamal Murray (ankle) for the eighth straight game and power forward Paul Millsap for the 12th in a row. "The other guys need to step up and they did," Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic said in a postgame television interview on TNT. "When you are missing guys, there cannot be a lack of effort ... We didn't want to lose. We have a tough stretch right now through the All-Star break and we just want to continue to play hard and win every game."
TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: Altitude, FS Wisconsin, NBA TV Canada
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (33-15): Jokic on Thursday was named to the All-Star team for the second time and indicated that he understands the prestige that comes with the selection. "To be honest, it means a lot," Jokic said on TNT. "It's really nice to be around those guys. Especially in the locker room, it's an amazing group of guys and you can see different personalities. They're all playing at a really high level and I'm honored and really happy to be a part of that group of guys." Jokic had 28 points and 10 assists in the win over the Jazz and has scored at least 24 points in each of the past four games.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (41-6): Small forward Khris Middleton was named to the All-Star team for the second time in his career and is coming off a career-best 51-point effort in the rout of the Wizards. "When we're struggling we just go to Khris," guard Donte DiVincenzo told reporters. "We have that confidence in him. He knows not to force it. He's an amazing player. He knows he can pick his spots and get others involved." Point guard Eric Bledsoe was among the players passed over and was superb against Washington with a season-best 34 points and tying his season high of 10 assists.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Bucks have won the past two meetings after losing the previous four matchups.
2. Middleton made seven 3-pointers against the Wizards, one shy of his career best.
3. Denver F Michael Porter Jr. recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds versus Utah for his fourth double-double in the past seven games.