After a much-needed All-Star break, both the Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks feel well-prepared for the final stretch of the regular season. The Clippers currently hold the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, while the Bucks are positioned fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Both teams hope to be at full strength when they resume play in Milwaukee on Thursday. The Bucks are closely monitoring the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who last played on February 2. He sat out one game with right knee pain and missed the last five games, along with All-Star weekend, due to a strained left calf.
Guard Damian Lillard is listed as questionable with a right hamstring strain. He missed last Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves before participating in the NBA 3-Point Contest and Sunday’s All-Star Game.
Both Milwaukee and Los Angeles are adjusting to recent roster changes. Point guard Ben Simmons made his Clippers debut in a 120-116 overtime win against the Utah Jazz last Thursday. Simmons, 28, contributed 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in 27 minutes off the bench.
Kawhi Leonard missed the win over Utah for right knee injury management but is expected to play Thursday. This game begins a stretch of seven road contests for the Clippers, concluding on March 4 against the Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers aim for a series sweep of the Bucks after defeating them 127-117 on January 25. James Harden led the Clippers with 40 points in that game.
Meanwhile, forward Kyle Kuzma is acclimating well with the Bucks, who acquired him in a multi-player trade with the Washington Wizards on February 5. Kuzma has averaged 16.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in four games with his new team.
Kuzma could potentially play alongside Antetokounmpo for the first time on Thursday, and Lillard is excited about the possibilities. Kuzma had 19 points and 13 rebounds in a 103-101 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves last Wednesday. After a slow start to the season, the Bucks have a 27-16 record since November 12.
