Bucks vs. Hornets Preview: Milwaukee Hopes to Avoid Getting Stung Against Charlotte

No rest for the Milwaukee Bucks this holiday week, having to fly back home following a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers just last night. They’ll have to manage tired legs, but thankfully so will their opponent, the Charlotte Hornets, who beat the Detroit Pistons at the last moment.

Bucks Update

Milwaukee has now won 10 straight after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-110. It looked like it would be a rout at halftime with a sizable 20-point lead, but the Cavs battled back with 10 triples in the third alone. It was a fireworks display, but Giannis was more than happy to snuff them out late with some overpowering drives and dunks. He finished with 33 points and extended his double-double streak. Once again, Khris Middleton came off the bench and had 12 points.

Here is an injury update too:

Player to Watch: Eric Bledsoe

No longer having to chase around Kemba Walker for Charlotte, Bledsoe should have a little lighter load having to take out Devonte Graham and Terry Rozier in this one. Although we all know his checkered history against the latter...he’ll have to find his own offensive rhythm with Middleton working back into the fold as well. He’s at his best when he’s aggressive, and the Hornets don’t have the horses inside to keep up with his finishing ability.

Hornets Update

Friskier than they had any right to be given the lowly preseason expectations, the Charlotte Hornets have been at least passable to start the season. Devonte Graham, a backup last year, has been busting out for them and well-overshadowing the egregious overpay the franchise made in the offseason for Terry Rozier. For the season, they’re sitting at 8-12, a massive victory to this point, and fresh off a 110-107 win in Detroit. Their flight was even shorter than the Bucks. PJ Washington, the rookie out of Kentucky, was their highlight vs. the Pistons with 26 points. Look for Charlotte to get funky with small lineups, as James Borrego did that often last year against Milwaukee.

Player to Watch: Miles Bridges

Bridges is one of those players who seems like he could be competent at just about anything - a beefy Donte some might say - and I would’ve loved for the Bucks to be able to snag him in the draft. This year, he’s at 12.7 points/game, shooting a shade over 35% from three on 4.5 attempts per game. It seems like he hasn’t quite come into his own as an NBA player yet, but he can throw down some massive dunks and his athleticism could pose a problem for the Bucks defensively.