Brooklyn plays Milwaukee on 3-game road slide

Thu, Mar 21, 2024
NBA News (AP)

Brooklyn Nets (26-43, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (44-25, second in the Eastern Conference)

Milwaukee; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Bucks -9.5; over/under is 222.5

BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn hits the road against Milwaukee looking to break its three-game road losing streak.

The Bucks have gone 30-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. Milwaukee is 4-6 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Nets have gone 18-23 against Eastern Conference opponents. Brooklyn ranks seventh in the Eastern Conference with 43.7 rebounds per game led by Nicolas Claxton averaging 9.8.

The Bucks are shooting 49.1% from the field this season, 1.9 percentage points higher than the 47.2% the Nets allow to opponents. The Nets average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.9 more makes per game than the Bucks give up.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Bucks won 144-122 in the last matchup on Dec. 28. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 32 points, and Jalen Wilson led the Nets with 21 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Damian Lillard is averaging 24.5 points and seven assists for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is averaging 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds over the past 10 games.

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Claxton is averaging 12.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for the Nets. Mikal Bridges is averaging 17.7 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 39.2% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 6-4, averaging 114.0 points, 41.6 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.2 points per game.

Nets: 3-7, averaging 107.1 points, 39.8 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.5 points.

INJURIES: Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (hamstring).

Nets: Dariq Whitehead: out for season (shin), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (ankle), Ben Simmons: out for season (back), Nic Claxton: day to day (illness).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.