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The Milwaukee Bucks will be wearing their “Classic” uniform set tonight as they take on the Brooklyn Nets and the first 5,000 kids 14 & under will receive a Jon McGlocklin replica throwback jersey. Milwaukee last played on Monday night, securing a victory over the Phoenix Suns with a roster that did not feature Giannis Antetokounmpo and a coaching staff that did not feature Jason Kidd.
Bucks Update
As you may know, the Bucks parted ways with their former head coach as well as a few assistant coaches this past week. There has been an incredible amount of Bucks content to consume these past few days due to the coaching shake-up and seemingly manufactured drama. Luckily, the Bucks are back to game-mode and Giannis returns to the lineup after missing the past two games due to precaution for a knee injury. Khris Middleton led the Bucks in scoring with 35 points on 68 percent shooting while looking like he was having some fun playing basketball. The bench was dreadful against Phoenix, scoring a combined nine points. Hopefully the bench scoring can shine through as the Bucks take on a similarly weak opponent.
Player to Watch: Malcolm Brogdon
The reigning Rookie of the Year dropped a career high 32 points on Monday and was then named to the Rising Stars Challenge roster. Brogdon was probably the player that most outwardly expressed pure joy on Monday night during the game; he was cracking smiles with Marshall Plumlee and played confidently fearless. If Brogdon can carry his performance over to tonight, then maybe it would be the start of seeing him take his game to another level now that Kidd is gone.
Nets Update
Brooklyn is coming off a tough loss at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, days after a thrilling victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Nets have been hit by the injury bug, losing Jeremy Lin for the season (patella) and only recently getting D’Angelo Russell back. Brooklyn has dropped two of their last six games overall and the last eight contests to Milwaukee. The Nets acquired Philadelphia castaway, Jahlil Okafor, and are bolstering their roster with young talent and seeing what they are made of.
Player to Watch: Spencer Dinwiddie
After meandering through NBA life his first three season, Dinwiddie appears to have planted himself as a capable, professional basketball player. He is averaging career highs across the board and has nearly doubled his points per game (seven to 13). Over his last three games, he has connected on 47 percent of his three-point attempts and put up a respectable 16 point, four rebound, and five assist line. The former University of Colorado stand-out, feels like a candidate to have a career night against the Bucks. How Eric Bledsoe and maybe-the-still-present-blitzing-defense handle Dinwiddie will be a factor for Brooklyn’s offensive flow.
What Vegas Says
The powers that be over at Bovada Sportsbook have the Bucks listed as six and a half point favorites and the over/under set at 213. If we average out the offensive and defensive ratings of each team, we get a final score of 109-108 in Milwaukee’s favor. So take the Nets at +6.5 and bet that over, baby.