Bucks at Cavaliers
THE STORY: The Cleveland Cavaliers host Milwaukee on Friday, trailing the Bucks by a half-game for the final playoff spot in the East. The two teams are tied in the loss column as the season nears the halfway point. The Bucks have lost three of four and continue to struggle through injuries, while the Cavaliers are trying to win consecutive games for just the second time this season. They remain in the playoff chase despite the fact their longest winning streak is two games.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Ohio
ABOUT THE BUCKS (11-14): Hours after Brandon Jennings was bypassed for the All-Star team, he was hinting that his days in Milwaukee might be ending. Jennings, averaging 18.9 points and 5.3 assists, wrote in an e-mail to ESPN.com on Thursday he is contemplating signing with a team in a larger market when his rookie deal expires. He is eligible to sign an extension with the Bucks this summer, but that doesn’t seem likely.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (10-14): Rookie Kyrie Irving will likely miss his second consecutive game with a concussion, while starting shooting guard Anthony Parker (back) and rookie forward Tristan Thompson (ankle) remain questionable. The Cavaliers continue to impress despite all the injuries, scoring a stunning win over the Clippers on Wednesday behind Ramon Sessions’ 24 points and 13 assists in place of Irving. Sessions’ name continues to get shopped in trade rumors and games like that will only make his stock rise.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Sessions, the former Bucks guard, averaged 12.5 points and five assists in four games against his old team last season.
2. The Bucks have attempted a total of 61 more free throws than their opponents over the last four games.
3. Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao’s 11.8 rebounds rank fourth in the league, but his 4.5 offensive rebounds per game lead the NBA.