The Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers will both be looking to get back in the win column when they meet on Friday at the Fiserv Forum. Both teams have suffered back-to-back losses and will be eager to get back on track in a marquee matchup between two of the N.B.A.’s largest franchises.
Match Preview
The Bucks came out of the All-Star break with a bang, winning seven of their first eight games. But they are now in a rut, with three consecutive defeats, even a gut-wrenching defeat, 126-124, to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
Milwaukee had fought back from an 11-point deficit to hold a late three-point lead, only for Tyrese Haliburton to finish off a stunning four-point play to clinch the game for Indiana. The league’s highest-scoring duo, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, scored only 34 points together, far below their normal level. Instead, Brook Lopez did his part with an efficient 23 points, going 9-of-11 overall.
The Bucks still sit fourth in the Eastern Conference despite their recent slump, but have now lost their buffer to the Pacers. Doc Rivers’ team have only a few more games to regain their form as the schedule gets harder, with matches to come against the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers, for their part, are also stinging from consecutive losses. The Boston Celtics snapped their eight-game winning streak, and they went on to lose to the Brooklyn Nets, 111-108, on Tuesday.
Luka Doncic, stepping up to serve as the primary offensive weapon with LeBron James unavailable, posted a triple-double: 22 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists. But he had trouble doing it efficiently, hitting just 8-of-26 shots from the field. The Lakers jumped out to a fast start, leading by as many as 12 points in the first quarter, but were outscored, 95-80, in the last three quarters to permit Brooklyn to complete its comeback.
Despite the recent losses, the Lakers are third in the Western Conference. But with teams beneath them drawing close, they cannot absorb another setback. Friday’s game is an important chance to regain momentum before their trip to Denver to visit the Nuggets.
Team News
LeBron James continues to be sidelined by a groin ailment, and Rui Hachimura is out with a knee problem. Since coming over from the Dallas Mavericks, Maxi Kleber remains unavailable as he recovers from a foot injury. Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) and Jaxson Hayes (knee) also sat out against Brooklyn, but Finney-Smith may be back for this one.
Milwaukee has just Chris Livingston (illness) and Tyler Smith (back) ruled out, so the Bucks are mostly healthy. Damian Lillard, who faced challenges on the shooting front versus Indiana, will want to make an impression.
Projected Lineups
Milwaukee Bucks: The Starting Five
Lillard, Prince, Kuzma, Antetokounmpo, Lopez
Los Angeles Lakers Starting Five:
Doncic, Vincent, Reaves, Knecht, Len
Prediction
Pressure is on for both teams, but the Lakers’ injury troubles/path for victory through LeBron out/not-to-game-time decision could tip things in Milwaukee’s favor. It should be a close fight, but the Bucks will take advantage of playing at home to end their losing streak.
Prediction: Bucks to win
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