The Milwaukee Bucks are in unfamiliar territory right now - and not in a good way. They’re riding a three-game skid and have dropped seven of their last nine, sliding to 12th in the Eastern Conference standings.
Tonight, they head to D.C. to face the Wizards at Capital One Arena, hoping to stop the bleeding against a team that, on paper, looks like a get-right opportunity. But here’s the twist: Washington has already beaten Milwaukee twice this season.
Yes, those Wizards - the 11-34 Wizards - have taken two from the Bucks, including a surprising win after Milwaukee’s season-opening victory back on Oct. 22, which doubled as Khris Middleton’s homecoming. Now the Bucks are trying to avoid a season series loss to one of the few teams below them in the East standings.
Early Struggles Continue
Milwaukee’s recent issues were on full display in the first quarter. The Bucks opened just 1-for-8 from the field and gave away free points with some costly fouls.
Washington jumped out to a 25-22 lead after going 9-for-9 at the line in the opening frame. Four of those came in the final moments, thanks to three-point shooting fouls by Bobby Portis Jr. and Pete Nance.
Portis’ foul was particularly painful - Bub Carrington hit the shot and the free throw.
It’s the kind of start that’s become all too familiar for Milwaukee lately - slow out of the gate, struggling to find rhythm, and making mental errors that opponents are capitalizing on.
No Giannis, Big Problems
The big question on everyone’s mind: Is Giannis playing tonight? The answer is no.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is sidelined indefinitely with a right calf strain - the second time this season he’s dealt with the same issue. He suffered the injury on Jan.
- While Giannis himself estimated a four-to-six week recovery window, head coach Doc Rivers has made it clear there’s no official timetable for his return.
And without their franchise cornerstone, the Bucks have struggled mightily. They’re just 3-12 when Giannis doesn’t suit up.
Portis: “It ain’t gonna be just peaches and cream”
Bobby Portis Jr. didn’t sugarcoat things when he spoke after practice on Jan. 26.
“Obviously it’s gonna be tough,” Portis said. “I’m not gonna sit here and act like it’s aw, yeah, this answer is gonna solve the problem or that answer is going to solve the problem.
Obviously it’s tough. You got an all-time great that’s out and lowkey the team is built around him.”
He’s right - this team is built around Giannis. Every offensive set, every defensive rotation, every crunch-time possession - it all flows through No.
- Take him out of the equation, and everyone else has to stretch beyond their usual roles.
“But at the same time we’re pros and guys have to step up,” Portis continued. “Probably play more minutes than they ever have, probably have more usage or more volume than they ever have, so different nights somebody is gonna shine different and everybody has to be cool with that. The biggest thing is stacking days, stacking wins.”
That’s the mindset Milwaukee has to adopt: grind it out, find ways to win ugly, and hope the group can tread water until Giannis is back.
Injury Report
It’s not just Giannis who’s out. The Bucks are dealing with a laundry list of injuries:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo - Out (right calf strain)
- **Kevin Porter Jr.
** - Out (right oblique strain)
- Taurean Prince - Out (neck surgery)
- Gary Harris - Out (left hamstring soreness)
- Cole Anthony - Available (illness)
That’s a lot of missing firepower, and it’s forced the Bucks to get creative with their rotations.
Projected Starting Lineup
Here’s who’s expected to start for Milwaukee tonight:
- Guards: Ryan Rollins, AJ Green
- Forwards: Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis Jr.
- Center: Myles Turner
It’s a mix of youth, experience, and players being asked to step outside their comfort zones. AJ Green and Ryan Rollins will be tasked with handling the ball and creating offense, while Portis and Kuzma will need to carry the scoring load. Turner anchors the middle, but without Giannis, the paint becomes a lot more vulnerable.
How to Watch
Tonight’s game tips off at 6 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on Amazon Prime Video. Kevin Harlan, Dell Curry, John Wall, and Kristina Pink will be on the call - a solid crew for a game that’s suddenly more intriguing than the records might suggest.
The Line
Despite their recent struggles, Milwaukee enters the game as a 2.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 222.5 points, per BetMGM. That’s a modest line, and it speaks to just how much Giannis’ absence has leveled the playing field.
Final Word
The Bucks are at a crossroads. They’re banged up, sliding in the standings, and missing their MVP.
But this is the NBA - there’s no time for excuses. Whether it’s Portis, Kuzma, Green, or someone else entirely, Milwaukee needs someone to step up and lead the charge tonight in Washington.
Because if they can’t take care of business against the Wizards, it’s going to be a long climb back into playoff contention.