Bucks at Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race and they’ll try to take advantage of struggling Milwaukee when they host the Bucks on Thursday. Golden State coach Mark Jackson told reporters after Tuesday’s win over the Orlando Magic that he plans to keep starting guard Andre Iguodala (knee tendinitis) out the next two games and he’ll probably rest backup center Jermaine O’Neal for a second straight game. The Warriors played without both against the Magic, as well as starting center Andrew Bogut (left ankle inflammation), but didn’t miss a beat in the 103-89 victory that kept them 1 1/2 games behind the slumping Portland Trail Blazers for fifth in the West.
The Philadelphia 76ers had lost 21 straight games heading into Wednesday but the Bucks still have a poorer record and haven’t won two consecutive games all season. They had a chance to pick up a big win Tuesday at Portland — and help the Warriors in their move up the standings — but gave up a tying layup with 4.9 seconds left in regulation before getting outscored by five in the overtime. Golden State forward David Lee had a big night when these teams last met Jan. 7 in Milwaukee, scoring 22 points on 10-for-12 shooting as the Warriors finished off a 10-game winning streak, which remains their longest since 1975.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), CSN Bay Area (Golden State)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (13-55): Ersan Ilyasova returned to the lineup against Portland and contributed 12 points and nine rebounds and the 6-10 Turk will likely play against the Warriors, but coach Larry Drew also said Ilyasova won’t play in the second half of back-to-back games the rest of the season so he can rest his bothersome ankle. The Bucks have three more back-to-back scenarios this season, the soonest being Sunday and Monday at the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers. Ilyasova, who’s averaging 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds, will need a strong finish to match last season’s marks of 13.2 and 7.1.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (43-26): Bogut was drafted first overall by the Bucks in 2005 and played his first seven NBA seasons in Milwaukee before the blockbuster trade two years ago that sent he and Stephen Jackson to Golden State in exchange for Monta Ellis. Bogut still hasn’t come close to matching his productivity in Milwaukee but at least the 7-foot center has remained fairly healthy this season, appearing in 60 of 69 games. He’s on pace to play at least 70 games for the first time since the 2007-08 season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Golden State guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are the first NBA teammates to combine for at least 400 3-pointers in back-to-back seasons.
2. Warriors F Harrison Barnes is shooting 25.9 percent from 3-point range in March after connecting on 44.8 percent of his 3s in February.
3. Bucks C Larry Sanders confirmed to reporters Wednesday that he’ll miss the rest of the season with a broken right orbital bone suffered Feb. 7.
PREDICTION: Warriors 110, Bucks 93