Bucks at Nets
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks picked on the Brooklyn Nets in recent years, a trend they will try to maintain when the teams clash in New York on Sunday afternoon. The Bucks have won nine in a row over the Nets - including four straight on the road - and Antetokounmpo was unstoppable in a 116-91 rout of Brooklyn a little over a week ago.
The 23-year-old All-Star had 41 points on 14-of-20 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds and seven assists in that meeting, one of four double-doubles he has recorded in the past five games. The latest was a 29-point, 11-rebound performance and the decisive layup with 1.9 seconds left in Friday's 92-90 home win over New York, Milwaukee's fifth victory in six games since firing head coach Jason Kidd. "It was a tough game," teammate Khris Middleton told reporters. "It was ugly pretty much from start to finish. Giannis made a big, big play — he was huge for us down the stretch. … Without him, we don't win this game, but guys did a great job of fighting." The Nets have lost five of six, including a 102-99 setback against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
TV: Noon ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), YES (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (28-23): While Antetokounmpo did his thing against the Knicks, the big story was the return from ACL surgery of fellow forward Jabari Parker, who scored 12 points in his first game in nearly a year. "I was just trying to stay composed, not trying to get carried away," Parker told the media. "I was pretty much distracted because I heard the crowd, but had to calm down. Still got to show the people why I've been working so hard." The second overall pick in the 2014 draft averaged 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 51 games last season before the injury.
ABOUT THE NETS (19-34): One of the few bright spots during Brooklyn's recent stretch is the impact of rookie center Jarrett Allen, who has made three straight starts while averaging 16 points and seven rebounds in only 23.3 minutes. Allen is 36-for-44 from the floor over a span of eight contests and had a season-high 20 points while playing opposite longtime Nets center Brook Lopez on Friday. "Face of the franchise," Allen said of Lopez. "Now I'm here trying to become the face, too, so just going back and forth. ... I wouldn't call it replacing Brook, Brook is one of a kind that I hear. I mean, he has stuff, I have stuff, and I'm just trying to see where I'm at against him."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bucks PG Malcolm Brogdon will miss up to eight weeks with a partially torn left quadricep tendon, the team announced Friday.
2. Allen made 6-of-8 shots in the loss to Milwaukee on Jan. 26 while his teammates combined to go 27-for-81 from the floor.
3. Nets SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (groin) missed four straight games.