The Milwaukee Bucks are set to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night as they wrap up their three-game road trip. The Bucks are hopeful that two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will return to the lineup after missing the last two games due to right knee soreness and left calf tightness.
Bucks’ Recent Performance:
Despite Antetokounmpo’s absence, the Bucks managed to snap a four-game losing streak with a 112-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. Damian Lillard stepped up with 29 points and 12 assists, while Bobby Portis contributed 23 points and 17 rebounds.
Key Players:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: Averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game.
- Damian Lillard: Averaging 25.4 points and 7.2 assists per game.
- Bobby Portis: Averaging 14.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Hawks’ Recent Performance:
The Hawks ended an eight-game losing streak with a win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday but couldn’t build on that success, losing 126-125 to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Onyeka Okongwu had a standout performance with a career-high 30 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists.
Key Players:
- Onyeka Okongwu: Averaging 14.3 points, 9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals during his last 10 games.
- De’Andre Hunter: Traded to Cleveland for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, and draft picks.
Trade Updates:
The Bucks acquired Kyle Kuzma and Patrick Baldwin Jr. from Washington in exchange for Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson. They also added backup center Jericho Sims from New York for Delon Wright. The Hawks traded De’Andre Hunter to Cleveland for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks, and two pick swaps.
Matchup History:
This will be the third meeting of the season between the Bucks and the Hawks. The Hawks won the first game 119-104 on December 4, but the Bucks won the next meeting 110-102 in the NBA Cup semifinal on December 14.
