A thrilling overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks comes with a grain of salt for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Following last night's 108-101 win, the Bucks travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets this evening probably a bit tired after their starters logged a combined 202 minutes, including 50 from Giannis Antetokounmpo. But if any type of team can withstand a minutes spike, it's a young team like the Bucks, right?
Bucks update
As mentioned above, the starters gave everything for the Bucks last night. All five of them scored in double-digits while Jabari Parker (10 points, 10 rebounds) and Greg Monroe (15 points, 12 rebounds) each joined Giannis in the double-double club. Khris Middleton scored 26 points and Michael Carter-Williams (15 points, nine rebounds and seven dimes) nearly finished with a triple-double while playing on edge with five fouls during the final stretch of the game.
MORE: Middleton on facing more double-teams
Giannis not only led the team in minutes, but in scoring (28) and rebounds (16). For the first time in his young career, he recorded a double-double for the third game in a row. This three-game stretch has been outstanding for Giannis, who is literally only attacking the paint and not taking any jumpers!
Giannis is averaging 25.3ppg/12.3rpg/3.7apg/1.7 bpg on 60% shooting in his last 3 games. Who needs jump shots??? pic.twitter.com/kZDssl1ttj
— Frank Madden (@brewhoop) January 16, 2016
Paul Millsap gave the Hawks 23 points and 10 rebounds but fouled out right before the start of overtime.
The Bucks will either finish this week above or below .500 based on tonight's outcome. The challenging part about finishing above that mark is that each of Milwaukee's losses this week have been on the road, while their wins have been at home. They've struggled to carry over the performance and effort they bring inside the BMO Harris Bradley Center, currently holding an awful 5-18 record away from Wisconsin. Now a four-game road trip stands in front of them.
"We've played well the last couple of games," Khris Middleton said after Friday's win. "We've been in almost every game, so now it's just about getting the road wins too for us."
The Bucks are also .500 this season (5-5) when facing opponents on zero days rest.
Hornets update
After defeating the Hawks for their first win of 2016, the Hornets fell 109-107 on the road to the dreadful Pelicans on Friday. Ryan Anderson scored 32 points for New Orleans, who also got 22 from star Anthony Davis.
It was a close matchup down south between the two teams. Kemba Walker nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game up at 107 with 19.2 to go before Jrue Holiday tossed what would be a game-clinching lob to Davis with under five ticks. Nicolas Batum had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but his corner turnaround three rimmed out. Batum and Walker each added 25 points while Wisconsin alum Frank Kaminsky added 18 off the bench.
The Hornets have been on a big decline since the start of the season. Before that win against Atlanta, Charlotte was on a seven-game losing streak, with five of those loses coming on the road. Walker and Batum have been consistent starters for the Hornets adding 19.1 and 15.7 per game respectively, but as a team, they're feeling the ill effects of not having big man Al Jefferson (right knee surgery) on top of already missing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (shoulder) for the season.
On the Hornets: At The Hive
2015/16 NBA Season | ||
---|---|---|
vs. | ||
January 16, 2016 | ||
Time Warner Cable Arena | Charlotte, NC | ||
6:00 CT | ||
FS Wisconsin |105.7 The Fan | ||
Probable Starters | ||
Michael Carter-Williams | PG | Kemba Walker |
Khris Middleton | SG | Nicolas Batum |
Giannis Antetokounmpo | SF | Marvin Williams |
Jabari Parker | PF | P.J. Hairston |
Greg Monroe | C | Cody Zeller |
2014/15 Advanced Stats | ||
94.0 (22nd) | Pace | 95.8 (13th) |
103.6 (23rd) | ORtg | 105.2 (12th) |
109.3 (29th) | DRtg | 104.1 (13th) |