The Milwaukee Bucks will visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night in Minneapolis for their final game before the All-Star break. The Bucks have alternated between losses and wins in their past five games and are looking to enter the break on a positive note. They are coming off a 125-111 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.
Milwaukee is currently without their top player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is sidelined with a left calf strain. Antetokounmpo will miss the All-Star Game and is expected to return to the Bucks after the break. Bucks coach Doc Rivers noted that fatigue seemed to impact his players in their most recent performance.
The Timberwolves have two games remaining before the break, with back-to-back home contests against the Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder. Minnesota had won eight of its previous 10 games before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers 128-107 on Monday.
Anthony Edwards will look to maintain his hot streak against the Bucks. Edwards has scored more than 40 points in each of his last three games, including a 44-point performance with eight 3-pointers on Monday. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch praised Edwards for his shooting but emphasized the need for the team to move the ball more effectively.
Edwards leads the Timberwolves with 27.5 points per game, while second-leading scorer Julius Randle (18.9) is out with a groin injury. Naz Reid (14.1) and Jaden McDaniels (11.3) round out the top scorers for Minnesota.
Without Antetokounmpo (31.8 points per game), the Bucks’ top scorer is Damian Lillard with 25.8 points per game. Recent acquisition Kyle Kuzma is averaging 15.3 points in his first three games for Milwaukee, and Bobby Portis follows with 13.8 points per game.
Both teams will be looking to head into the All-Star break on a high note, with the Timberwolves aiming to bounce back at home and the Bucks hoping to overcome the absence of their star player.
