Suns at Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks already announced themselves as contenders in the Eastern Conference with their play early this season, but they might have just shown the league how high their ceiling really is. The Bucks will try to follow up one dominating performance with another when they host the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
Milwaukee shot 52.8 percent from the floor and held the Portland Trail Blazers to 36.2 percent in a 143-100 shellacking at home on Wednesday, but the team still thinks it can improve. "I think we definitely have made a statement so far," Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters. "I think teams, when they come to Milwaukee, they know they're going to play a great team and they've got to play hard and play well. At the end of the day, I think we're getting better every day. We have a long way to go until April, May and June." The Suns are trying to get better every day as well but continue to fall short in the win column and suffered their third straight loss with a 124-116 setback at Chicago on Wednesday. The positives come from the development of young players, and No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton pulled off his 10th double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds on Wednesday.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE SUNS (3-14): Part of the current developmental plan is rounding out the game of 22-year-old foundation piece Devin Booker. The shooting guard is taking on more responsibility in the offense and is operating as the point guard for all or parts of games. Booker is averaging 9.5 assists over the last four games but totaled 16 turnovers in that span, including six in Wednesday's setback.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (13-4): Antetokounmpo led the way with 33 points on 13-of-20 shooting Wednesday but came up just shy of a triple-double with 16 rebounds and nine assists. “I knew that," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "My teammates told me to go get (the triple-double), so that's what I tried. ... I always go to Tony (Snell). He was able to knock down some shots. Thon (Maker) did the same thing. Then some didn't go in. It was a great win overall." The performance marked the third straight double-double for Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 26.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bucks SF Khris Middleton scored over 20 points in four of the last five games.
2. Suns SF T.J. Warren is averaging 23.9 points over the last seven games.
3. Milwaukee took the last six in the series.