Bucks at Bulls
The Milwaukee Bucks smacked around the Chicago Bulls twice earlier this month and look to do it again on the final day of the calendar year when the teams meet Saturday in the Windy City. Milwaukee won games on back-to-back nights by an average of 18.5 points, holding the Bulls to a season-low 69 points in the second contest.
Chicago experienced issues defending Bucks small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in the two meetings as the player known as "The Greek Freak" averaged 26 points, 10.5 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Antetokounmpo recorded 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting in Friday's 116-99 loss to Minnesota and has recorded 10 consecutive 20-point performances, averaging 27.2 during the stretch. Bulls star guard Jimmy Butler averaged just 14 points in the two losses to the Bucks and tallied a season-low seven in the 95-69 defeat on Dec. 16. Butler scored 25 points in Chicago's 111-101 setback against Indiana - the team's seventh loss in 10 contests.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (15-16): Forward Jabari Parker, who has enjoyed a strong month, scored 20 points against Minnesota for his fifth 20-point effort in six games. The former No. 2 overall pick is averaging 22.1 points with 11 20-point performances this month after reaching the plateau just six times in his first 16 contests. Milwaukee lacks a third scorer behind Antetokounmpo and Parker, and that could become a bigger issue over the second half of the campaign if it doesn't look for scoring help via a trade.
ABOUT THE BULLS (16-17): Chicago is an underachieving team, and speculation has begun churning that coach Fred Hoiberg could be in the line of fire, even though he only is in the second season of a five-year, $25 million deal. The Bulls missed the playoffs in his first season at the helm and haven't made upward strides despite the offseason signings of veteran guards Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. "I've got a job to do, which is to try and put this team in a position to go out and win basketball games," Hoiberg told reporters. "Like probably 24 other coaches, I'm trying to find a way for us to go out and play consistent basketball on a nightly basis."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Bucks were 21-of-45 from 3-point range in the two victories earlier this month while the Bulls were 10-of-41.
2. Chicago F Nikola Mirotic is just 4-of-21 shooting over his last two games.
3. Milwaukee PG Matthew Dellavedova (hamstring) will miss his second straight contest.