Hornets at Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks own the best winning percentage in the NBA and are on a roll with wins in five straight games. The Bucks breezed by the Dallas Mavericks 116-106 on Monday before getting three full days off and will try to find the momentum again and sweep the two-game homestand when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
Milwaukee continues to be led by multi-talented forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who collected 31 points and 15 rebounds on Monday for his fourth consecutive double-double. The Bucks improved to 21-4 at home with the win over the Mavericks but will play eight of 10 on the road leading into the All-Star break after finishing up with the Hornets. Charlotte was bludgeoned 120-95 at Indiana in the opener of its three-game road trip but bounced back by picking on the crumbling Memphis Grizzlies in a 118-107 triumph on Wednesday. "We just stayed tough. (Memphis) plays hard," Hornets star guard Kemba Walker told reporters. "They've been playing this way for a really long time. We knew it was going to be a dogfight. We stayed tough, stayed resilient and came out with a big win."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE HORNETS (23-24): Walker carries the biggest load on the team, but veteran point guard Tony Parker is still capable of breaking out a strong performance off the bench. Parker scored 17 points in as many minutes on 7-of-11 shooting on Wednesday to lead a solid effort from the reserves. "Our bench really helped us in that first half," Hornets coach James Borrego told reporters. "We didn't get off to a great start, but I think our bench played with a lot of energy that first half, really got us that lead and really pushed us ahead in that second quarter. I think our starters responded in the third quarter. A complete second half on both ends of the floor."
ABOUT THE BUCKS (34-12): Milwaukee center Brook Lopez recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds and added five blocks in Monday's triumph. "We talk about making reads on offense and having IQ, lots of time people equate that with offense," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters in reference to Lopez. "His reads and his decision-making defensively are really, really good. I think he's just getting better and better as the season goes on. He's getting a little more aggressive and I think his teammates are covering behind him. I think we've got a good thing going defensively with Brook." Lopez is also a legitimate 3-point threat and went 4-of-7 from beyond the arc on Monday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lopez totaled 16 blocks in the last four games and leads the team at an average of 2.1.
2. Hornets C Bismack Biyombo is averaging 11.7 rebounds over the last three contests.
3. The teams split the first two meetings this season - both in Charlotte.