Eastern Conference rivals coming off disappointing losses will face off in Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon as the Bucks welcome the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bucks’ Situation:
Playing without star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), Milwaukee squandered a 21-point lead in a 115-110 loss at Atlanta on Friday night. Bucks coach Doc Rivers didn’t mince words about his team’s performance, as the loss dropped Milwaukee to 2-6 since January 27.
Kyle Kuzma made his Milwaukee debut after being acquired from Washington in exchange for Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson. Kuzma scored 12 points (all in the first half) and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench.
Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks with 31.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, but his status for Sunday’s game is uncertain due to the calf injury. Additionally, Liam Robbins (groin), Pat Connaughton (calf), and Kevin Porter Jr. (trade pending) also missed Friday’s game. It remains unclear whether any of them will play on Sunday.
76ers’ Situation:
Philadelphia trailed by as many as 34 points during Friday night’s 125-112 road loss to a Detroit team that played without All-Star guard Cade Cunningham. It was just the second game the 76ers have lost this season with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George all on the floor. Philadelphia has dropped four of its last five games after winning four straight.
76ers head coach Nick Nurse expressed his disappointment in the effort of his group. Maxey leads Philadelphia, averaging 27.8 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Embiid, in just 15 games, is averaging 24.6 points and 8.1 rebounds. There is no indication that any of their big three will miss Sunday’s game, as it is not part of a back-to-back. Guerschon Yabusele’s status for Sunday is unknown after he missed Friday’s game with a knee injury.
Recent Matchups:
Milwaukee has dominated the recent series against Philadelphia, winning the last six meetings, including the first two this season. The Bucks secured a 124-109 win at Philadelphia in the season opener on October 23 and followed up with a 123-109 home victory on January 19. Neither Embiid nor George played in either contest.
Maxey has been the key scorer for the 76ers in both matchups with Milwaukee, tallying 25 points in the opener and a game-high 37 in the last matchup. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 34 points and 15 rebounds in the latter contest.
Milwaukee can clinch the four-game season series with a win on Sunday. The Bucks have either won or split the series against Philadelphia every year since the 2011-12 season.
Key Statistics:
- Road Records: Both teams have identical road records at 10-15.
- Defensive Numbers: Both teams allow an average of just under 113 points per game.
- Home Advantage: Milwaukee is 16-8 at home and averages five more points per game (114.2) compared to Philadelphia (109.1).
