Bucks at Nets
The Brooklyn Nets responded to a disappointing road trip with a huge victory for their playoff hopes last time out and look to ride that momentum into a home game against the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. The Nets, who sit in seventh place but just one game clear of ninth in the Eastern Conference, went 2-5 on their recent road trip before D’Angelo Russell recorded 29 points and 10 assists in a 110-96 win over Boston on Saturday.
“We know that all these games coming up are playoff games,” Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters after his team outrebounded Boston 58-46. “It’s just how we have to look at it. We’re in it. We can’t shy away from it. They’re all playoff games, but it was important to get this one.” The Nets have dropped the first two contests of the season series by a combined 33 points against the Bucks, who lead the East by three games over Toronto with five to play but are experiencing a rash of injuries. Second-leading scorer Khris Middleton (groin) missed Sunday’s 136-135 overtime loss to Atlanta and MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo also sat out with an ankle injury, but coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters the 6-11 superstar could play on the trip either Monday or Thursday at Philadelphia. “Him not playing today, for a lot of different reasons, makes sense and we’ll just evaluate him, give him 24 hours, see how he’s feeling and make a decision again (Monday),” Budenholzer said of Antetokounmpo, who averages 27.4 points and 12.5 rebounds.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin Plus (Milwaukee), WWOR-TV (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (57-20): Milwaukee, which is also without regulars Pau Gasol (ankle), Nikola Mirotic (thumb) and Malcolm Brogdon (heal), rested third-leading scorer Eric Bledsoe (15.8) on Saturday while using a makeshift lineup. Sterling Brown recorded a career-high 27 points and Tim Frazier scored 20 along with 15 assists in 53 minutes of action after logging just 42 combined the previous seven games. Rookie forward Bonzie Colson had 15 points and 16 boards in 41 minutes Sunday after playing just seven in four games this season.
ABOUT THE NETS (39-38): Russell averaged 22.2 points and 8.4 assists in March, but shot 35 percent from the field and scored 18 in his only game against the Bucks this season. Forward Joe Harris is averaging 18.5 points over the past four games and guard Caris LeVert added 16.3 per contest over the past three while second-leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie (17.3) is struggling from behind the arc in his past six outings (8-for-36). Veteran forward Ed Davis tops Brooklyn in rebounding (8.7) and has hauled in 44 caroms over the past four contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Milwaukee C Brook Lopez has scored in double figures eight straight games, averaging 16.1 points in that stretch.
2. Brooklyn F Rodions Kurucs (8.4 points) left Saturday’s game with a bruised knee and is questionable for Monday.
3. Bucks G Pat Connaughton registered his first career double-double Sunday with 17 points and 12 rebounds - both season highs.