Suns at Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks weren't going to win every game the rest of the way, but any loss is still a bit shocking. The Bucks will try to bounce back after a 127-115 home loss to the Denver Nuggets when they host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Milwaukee owns the best record in the NBA at 41-7 but fell to 22-3 at home with the loss to the Nuggets on Friday and was outscored by 19 points in the second half despite another solid outing from reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. "We weren't very good," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters after watching his team allow 22 made 3-pointers in the setback. "Got to coach better, play better, smarter. But I think a lot of credit to Denver tonight. ... We could be better, but I think they moved it, they shot it well." Suns guard Devin Booker was upset that he was not named to the All-Star team when rosters were announced on Thursday and responded with 27 points at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder the next night, but it was not enough in a 111-107 setback. Phoenix dropped four of its last six games overall but is 4-1 in its last five on the road, including victories at Boston and Dallas.
TIME: 2 p.m. ET. TV: FS Arizona, FS Wisconsin
ABOUT THE SUNS (20-28): Booker, who is eighth in the league in scoring at an average of 27.1 points, wasn't shy about voicing his displeasure with the league over his All-Star snub. "It was always a goal of mine, but it just reproves the point that the NBA is different from the game I fell in love with at the beginning of all the best players being in the All-Star game," Booker told reporters. "Growing up watching that. And now it's an entertainment, drama, political-filled league, but we're a part of it now. It pays well, so I guess we should be quiet about it." One of the players who made the team over Booker was Thunder point guard Chris Paul, who was booed heartily by the home crowd on Friday but proved his worth by knocking down the go-ahead shot and posting a double-double against Phoenix.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (41-7): Antetokounmpo returned after missing one game with shoulder soreness and collected 31 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists while struggling a bit from the floor (11-of-27). Antetokounmpo got the rare opportunity to start a game alongside his brother, Thanasis, while Milwaukee celebrated Greece night on Friday and Thanasis delivered four points in five minutes before heading back to the bench. "Just a night for he and Giannis to start an NBA game together was something that I just thought was something unique and special," Budenholzer told reporters. "I thought Thanasis gave us great energy out of the gate. We got off to a great start. Let those two guys play together for a minute."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bucks All-Star SF Khris Middleton is 23-of-37 from the floor over the last two games, including 11-of-16 from beyond the arc.
2. Suns PF Dario Saric (ankle) left Friday's game and is questionable for Sunday.
3. Phoenix took both meetings last season, including a 116-114 triumph at Milwaukee in which Booker scored 29 points.