The Milwaukee Bucks hope to have star Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup when they play host to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.
The Bucks (44-25) begin a three-game homestand with the matchup against the Nets (26-43), whose chances of earning a spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament are fading with 13 games remaining. The Nets have lost four straight, leaving them 4 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final play-in spot.
Antetokounmpo missed his second straight game on Wednesday, when Milwaukee trailed by as many as 21 points in a 122-119 road loss to the Boston Celtics. The two-time MVP remained home to treat his left hamstring injury.
Damian Lillard scored 32 points in the loss to the Celtics, while Bobby Portis added 24 points and 15 rebounds. Milwaukee rallied in the fourth quarter before falling to 3-2 without Antetokounmpo this season.
Milwaukee won the previous two meetings against Brooklyn this season, both on the road, 129-125 on Nov. 6 and 144-122 on Dec. 27. Antetokounmpo averaged 34 points and 11 rebounds in the two victories.
The Nets were held to 36.9 percent shooting in a 104-91 home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. Cam Thomas scored 25 points to lead Brooklyn, which trailed by 24 points in the second quarter.
Thomas, who has scored at least 20 points in a career-high six straight games, expressed his frustration with the team’s skid following the Tuesday defeat.
One bright spot in the loss to New Orleans was the play of reserve center Day’Ron Sharpe, who grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds.
The game also served as a milestone for forward Mikal Bridges, who played his 500th consecutive contest. Bridges owns the longest active streak in the NBA.
