Wizards at Bucks
THE STORY: Neither the Milwaukee Bucks nor the Washington Wizards had any representation at Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game. Being a combined 26 games under .500 makes it hard to get individual players noticed in a positive light. The Bucks stumbled into the break losers of two straight and six of seven. They got some good news over the weekend when it was revealed that Andrew Bogut will not need surgery on his ankle. But they are still without the starting center and his backup, Drew Gooden. The Wizards have dropped four straight while allowing an average of 108.8 points.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CS Washington (Wizards), FS Wisconsin (Bucks)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (7-26): Point guard John Wall took the trip to Orlando over the weekend and made some highlights with a behind-the-back dunk in the Rising Stars Game. Unfortunately, teams play defense when the games actually count and Wall is tied for the NBA lead with an average of 4.2 turnovers. Coach Randy Wittman questioned his team’s effort after a 115-107 home loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. “Until our team is committed to playing winning basketball … we’re going to be like this team was (against the Kings),” Wittman said. Washington committed 20 turnovers in the contest.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (13-20): Milwaukee has not given up yet on its season but it also has yet to prove it can beat the better teams in the East. Of the Bucks’ last six losses, three came to the Orlando Magic along with one each against the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat. They have also lost to Atlanta and Philadelphia, two more teams expected to coast into the playoffs. After the Wizards, Milwaukee will get a chance to measure itself as it begins a three-game road trip through Boston, Atlanta and Orlando before returning home to face Philadelphia and Chicago. The Bucks are using Larry Sanders at center and have shifted more of the frontcourt responsibilities to forward Ersan Ilyasova.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Milwaukee took the first meeting 102-81 at home on Dec. 30 and has won five of the last six in the series.
2. Wall went 1 for 9 with seven assists and four turnovers in the Dec. 30 matchup.
3. Bogut (left ankle) will be out until at least the middle of next month.