Bucks at Pelicans
The Milwaukee Bucks own the best record in the NBA but are mired in what constitutes a slump in an otherwise magnificent season. The Bucks will try to snap a three-game road losing streak and avoid falling for the fourth time in six games when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
Milwaukee fell at Utah and Phoenix last week to suffer its first back-to-back losses of the campaign and bounced back with two wins at home before dropping the opener of a three-game trip 121-114 at San Antonio on Sunday. "I just felt we were a little disjointed, spacing wasn't great," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters after falling to the Spurs. "We'll look at the film. I thought we missed more than the normal number of good shots and good opportunities, including some in the paint at the basket." The Pelicans dropped their last three contests and fell 128-116 at Atlanta on Sunday with forward Anthony Davis playing his now-customary 21 minutes, but the disgruntled star is trying to find positives for his team. "Guys are still playing hard," Davis told reporters. "We are not the type of team to give in, and since I've been here, we will fight all the way to the very end. ... You just go out there, try hard, and have fun."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS New Orleans
ABOUT THE BUCKS (50-17): Milwaukee enters the week two games ahead of the Toronto Raptors in the race for the best record in the East and closes out the three-game trip at Miami on Friday before playing nine of the final 13 regular-season games at home. Superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo appears immune to the struggles plaguing the rest of the team and is averaging 29.2 points on 58.1 percent shooting, 13 rebounds and 6.2 assists in the last five games. The MVP candidate posted a double-double in each of the last six contests and ranks fifth in the league with 48 on the season.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (30-39): New Orleans is dealing with a rash of injuries to its backcourt, opening up an opportunity for Frank Jackson to shine. The 20-year-old Duke product responded with 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting and six rebounds on Sunday - his second consecutive 20-point effort. "I was really proud of Frank," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters after Sunday's loss. "I thought this was overall one of the best games that he has played. Forget about the score, but just his overall game. I think the game is really starting to slow down for him, and this is the first time that he has really played competitively in two years. I like what he is doing and the progress that he has made."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pelicans PG Jrue Holiday (abdominal) is not expected to play Tuesday while SG E'Twaun Moore (quad) is questionable.
2. Bucks SG Pat Connaughton went 4-of-4 from 3-point range on Sunday after going a combined 1-of-9 over the previous four contests.
3. Milwaukee earned a 123-115 home win over New Orleans on Dec. 19 behind 25 points from Antetokounmpo.