Bucks at Bulls
The Milwaukee Bucks are 2-0 since former coach Jason Kidd was dismissed, but both of those wins came at home against teams near the bottom of the standings. The Bucks will try to keep the momentum going on the road when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.
Milwaukee breezed past the Brooklyn Nets 116-91 on Friday and shooting guard Khris Middleton pointed to joy as one of the reasons for the easy win. "That's what we're getting back to, just having fun," Middleton told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "We're playing for one another. When we're having fun and relaxed, but we play hard we're one of the best teams, I feel like. The last two nights we showed it. Granted, it wasn't against some of the best teams, but we feel like we can do that every night." The Bulls are not one of the best teams by record, either, but they are 15-11 over the last 26 games despite a current three-game slide. Chicago's worst loss since early December may have come Friday, when it dropped a 108-103 decision at home to the Los Angeles Lakers.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE BUCKS (25-22): All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a two-game absence on Friday and looked refreshed while collecting 41 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in 33 minutes. "I felt like me today," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "Those eight days, they helped me a lot. I was able to get energized, get my confidence up, feel a little bit stronger -- I had five weight sessions. But I felt lost, I definitely felt lost, because this is what I love to do is play games." Antetokounmpo went 3-of-3 from 3-point range as part of a 14-of-20 shooting effort and told reporters that he would no longer hesitate when an open 3-pointer presents itself.
ABOUT THE BULLS (18-31): Chicago is having some trouble finding a rhythm with starting point guard Kris Dunn (concussion) out and Zach LaVine (knee) working his way into the rotation. "Kris (is) obviously our best push guard and getting the ball down in a hurry and is our best player in our flow offense," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters. "We're still adjusting without Kris, who obviously has been a big part of what we are doing here. We are trying to get Zach reintegrated into what we are doing as well. Some if it is moving parts, understanding where guys are on the floor." LaVine went 3-of-17 from the floor in Friday's loss and is shooting 38.2 percent through seven games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bucks PG Malcolm Brogdon (calf) sat out Friday and is day-to-day.
2. Bulls rookie PF Lauri Markkanen went 3-of-6 from 3-point range on Friday after going 1-of-13 over the previous three contests.
3. Chicago took the last three in the series, including a pair of wins at Milwaukee in December.