Bucks at Cavaliers
THE STORY: The Milwaukee Bucks have won eight of their last 11
games to remain within striking distance of the final playoff spot in
the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers have dropped five
straight and eight of their last nine to tumble into last place in the
Central Division. They have failed to score more than 85 points in each
of their last four games. The Bucks have won the last five meetings in
this series.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Bucks), FS Ohio (Cavaliers)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (23-27):
Coach Scott Skiles is tightening his bench to eight players as
Milwaukee prepares for one final playoff push over the last 16 games.
They are 2½ games behind the Knicks for the final playoff spot.
Milwaukee should get Ersan Ilyasova back after he missed Tuesday’s
victory over the Hawks with back spasms, but forward Carlos Delfino will
not make the trip to Cleveland after injuring his right groin in
Monday’s loss to the Knicks. Delfino sat out Tuesday’s victory, too.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (17-31):
Injuries, trades and lineup juggling has left Cleveland’s reserves void
of scoring threats after they enjoyed one of the better benches through
the first half of the season. The Cavaliers' bench has produced less
than 25 points in five of the last seven games. Kyrie Irving and Antawn
Jamison combined for 39 of the team’s 75 points in Wednesday’s loss to
the Pistons. Coach Byron Scott’s message following the loss was simple:
Stick together, keep encouraging each other and don’t quit on the
season. There are still plenty of games to go.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1.
Bucks forward Drew Gooden recorded his second career triple-double two
weeks ago in the Bucks’ victory over the Cavaliers. Both of Gooden’s
triple-doubles have come against the Cavaliers, his former team.
2. The Bucks’ defense has forced at least 20 turnovers in a game 10 times.
3.
Cavaliers rookie Tristan Thompson is shooting 71 percent from the free
throw line over his last nine games. Thompson shot about 50 percent from
the line prior to that.