Nets at Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks have won six of their last seven games and with a victory Saturday against the visiting Brooklyn Nets would own the best record in the NBA by percentage points. The Bucks enter the day a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors for the league's top mark after sweeping a home-and-home set with the New York Knicks and then watching the Raptors fall Friday night in Orlando.
The 112-96 win over the Knicks on Thursday began Milwaukee's season high-tying six-game homestand on a positive note. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 of his 31 points in the second half and shook off an altercation with New York center Enes Kanter to guide his team to the finish line. "He just tends to keep his focus, keep his composure, go to the next play," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters of Antetokounmpo. "He takes a pounding every night, he drives it a ton. Just super impressed with how he goes to the next play, next-play mentality, and doesn't let anything get in his way of being great." The Nets are coming off just their second loss in the last 11 games after falling 100-87 at Charlotte on Friday.
TV: 5 p.m. ET, YES (Brooklyn), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE NETS (17-20): Brooklyn made a season-low four 3-pointers in 27 attempts in Friday's loss and D'Angelo Russell was the only starter to score in double figures, finishing with 33 points. "We weren't ready physically or mentally. I think physically they dominated us and then we made a bunch of breakdowns in our man-to-man defense," coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. Spencer Dinwiddie finished with a season-low three points on 1-of-7 shooting after scoring at least 24 in six of his previous nine contests.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (24-10): Antetokounmpo also had 14 rebounds, eight assists and four blocked shots in Thursday's dominant effort, while Khris Middleton chipped in 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting. "Just trying not to settle as much," Middleton told reporters. "I've been passive or settling for three-balls too many times in the past. Tonight, I wanted to try to get to the paint and try to get in a rhythm early and it worked out for me." The 27-year-old, who shot 32.7 percent from the floor over his first 10 games this month, is questionable for Saturday's tilt due to a quadriceps bruise.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bucks PF D.J. Wilson had 10 points and 14 rebounds in Thursday's win for his first career double-double.
2. Nets PG Shabazz Napier hit all five of his shots in the loss to the Hornets after making 7-of-25 through his first four games this month.
3. Milwaukee has won 12 of the last 14 meetings.