What: Charlotte Hornets (6-9) (1-6 away) at Milwaukee Bucks (7-9) (6-3 home)
When: 8:00pm Eastern
Where: Fiserv Forum; Milwaukee, WI
How to watch: FanDuel Sports Network, NBA League Pass
Outfitting: Hornets–Association (white), Bucks–City (blue)
Game Lines: Hornets +7.5, Hornets money line +240, O/U 224.5
Injuries:
Hornets: Miles Bridges-out (knee), Tre Mann-out (back), Mark Williams-out (foot), Nick Richards-out (ribs), DaQuan Jeffries-out (hand)
Bucks: Don’t know yet
The Bucks have finally started to win some games after a dreadful start to the season. They’ve won five out of their last six with the one loss coming to…checks notes…the Hornets! Damian Lillard returned for the next game and the Bucks rattled off three straight wins. Giannis has averaged 32.7 points and 10.7 free throw attempts in those games after he was limited to 22 points and one free throw attempt in Charlotte.
Damian Lillard has been rounding into form since his return from a concussion. He adds a dynamic shot making threat the Bucks didn’t really have in the first meeting last weekend. It’ll be a little bit harder for the Hornets to load up on Giannis and rely on other Bucks players to miss shots. That’s especially true with Bobby Portis and Gary Trent Jr. shooting 60% from three in the last three games and Taurean Prince shooting over 50% from three on the season.
The Hornets are going to be short handed, as per usual, but it’s generally the same lineup they had for their win over the Pistons on Thursday. Tre Mann is out as he deals with some nagging back pain, but he was largely ineffective on Thursday anyway. Miles Bridges aggravated his knee against the Nets on Tuesday and needs a little bit more time to mend.
If there’s one advantage the Hornets have tonight, it’s that the Bucks are the second night of a back to back. The Bucks were at home last night as well, so there’s no travel involved, but the Hornets should be at least a little bit better rested.
