What: Charlotte Hornets (4-7) (3-3 home) vs Milwaukee Bucks (4-8) (1-5 away)
When: 3:00pm Eastern
Where: Spectrum Center; Charlotte, NC
How to watch: FanDuel Sports Network, NBA League Pass
Outfitting: Hornets–City (mint), Bucks–Association (white)
Game Lines: Hornets +3.5, Hornets money line +140, O/U 216.5
Injuries:
Hornets: Miles Bridges-questionable (knee), Mark Williams-out (foot), Nick Richards-out (ribs), DaQuan Jeffries-out (hand)
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo-probable (knee), AJ Green-probable (shoulder), Bobby Portis-doubtful (elbow), Damian Lillard-out (head), Khris Middleton-out (ankle), Ryan Rollins-out (shoulder)
The Bucks have had a nightmarish start to their first full season with Doc Rivers as their head coach. They started 2-8 with the only two wins coming against the hapless (at the time) 76ers and hapless (all the time) Jazz. They’ve since won their last two against the Pistons and Raptors. Not exactly a murderers row.
The Bucks are going to be all Giannis all the time right now. Their other stars are out with injuries and bench sparkplug Bobby Portis is unlikely to play. The Hornets have to deal with two main problems:
- Dealing with Giannis without much size to put on him. Grant Williams seems like the only player with enough mobility and strength to even try. Miles Bridges can help if he plays. Otherwise, I don’t know who guards Giannis.
- Scoring around the basket against Brook Lopez. Despite moving like he has concrete in his shoes, Lopez has been one of the better rim protectors in the league thanks to his defensive feel and timing. The Hornets don’t have great finishers at the basket. Lopez will probably give them problems.
With all the injuries, Giannis is the only player keeping this from being an even matchup on paper. Really you could make the case that the Hornets have the better healthy group two through however.
It’s the season debut of the mint jerseys and mint court. The Hornets have to win on it.
