Bucks at Celtics
Just when it seemed as if the Boston Celtics were putting everything together, they have taken a few steps back and now face a more challenging portion of the schedule. That stretch of six straight games against teams at .500 or better begins Friday night against the streaking Milwaukee Bucks.
"This is the NBA season. You just want to have great pockets of games, you have good consistent run, and then now you have a lapse," Boston guard Kyrie Irving told reporters after a 111-103 home loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, the team's second straight setback following an eight-game winning streak. "Now it's [time to] build it back up, continue to work every single day to be a very great team. It's a work in progress every day." Nine of the Celtics' last 10 games came against teams that will enter Friday with losing records, but the Bucks present a very different challenge as they try to reach the top of the Eastern Conference. Wednesday's 123-115 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at home gave Milwaukee three consecutive victories and five in its last six outings. The Bucks were the last undefeated team in the NBA at 7-0 before falling 117-113 at Boston on Nov. 1.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCS Boston
ABOUT THE BUCKS (21-9): Giannis Antetokounmpo put up another impressive line of 25 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one blocked shot in the win over the Pelicans. Five others scored in double figures, including two players -- Tony Snell and George Hill -- off of a bench that combined to produce 49 points on 17-of-28 shooting. "It's a huge statement. You need that throughout the season," coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. "You need your bench. It's a really important part."
ABOUT THE CELTICS (18-12): While Boston tries to figure out a way to get out of its latest rut, it must do so with a banged-up frontcourt, as Al Horford (knee) has missed six straight games and fellow center Aron Baynes suffered a broken hand in Wednesday's loss and is out indefinitely. Forward Marcus Morris also sat out Wednesday's game due to knee soreness as the team was beginning a stretch in which it plays 19 games in 36 days. "You want to prepare yourself the best you know how," Irving told reporters of the difficult stretch. "It's more about maintenance and survival right now."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Irving had 29 points and 10 assists versus Phoenix and is averaging 29.3 points over his last four games.
2. Antetokounmpo led all players with 33 points and 11 rebounds in the first meeting.
3. Bucks PF Ersan Ilyasova has missed two straight games due to a broken nose.