Bucks Host Celtics In Heavyweights Matchup
The Milwaukee Bucks will host the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on Thursday.
The Bucks (54-21) are coming off a 149-136 road win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Jrue Holiday stole the show after exploding for 51 points while shooting 20-for-30 from the field, including 3-for-6 from deep. Giannis Antetokounmpo also made his presence felt for the Bucks with an impressive triple-double of 38 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists across 32 minutes. Brook Lopez ended with 21 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Bobby Portis had 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench. The Bucks have gone 30-7 at home this season and enter this game having won five of their last six.
Meyers Leonard (calf), Jae Crowder (calf) and Khris Middleton (knee) are all listed as game-time decisions for Thursday.
The Celtics (52-24) are coming off a 130-111 road loss to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Marcus Smart notched 14 points, five assists and two steals. Jaylen Brown finished with 18 points, four assists and three rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon had 13 points, three rebounds and two assists coming off the bench. The Celtics have gone 24-15 on the road this season and enter this game with a 3-2 record in their last five contests.
Robert Williams (knee), Grant Williams (illness) and Payton Pritchard (heel) are all listed as game-time decisions for Thursday. Danilo Gallinari (knee) is out.
This will be the third meeting between both teams this season. The season series is currently tied at 1-1.
The Bucks (54-21) are coming off a 149-136 road win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Jrue Holiday stole the show after exploding for 51 points while shooting 20-for-30 from the field, including 3-for-6 from deep. Giannis Antetokounmpo also made his presence felt for the Bucks with an impressive triple-double of 38 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists across 32 minutes. Brook Lopez ended with 21 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Bobby Portis had 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench. The Bucks have gone 30-7 at home this season and enter this game having won five of their last six.
Meyers Leonard (calf), Jae Crowder (calf) and Khris Middleton (knee) are all listed as game-time decisions for Thursday.
The Celtics (52-24) are coming off a 130-111 road loss to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Marcus Smart notched 14 points, five assists and two steals. Jaylen Brown finished with 18 points, four assists and three rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon had 13 points, three rebounds and two assists coming off the bench. The Celtics have gone 24-15 on the road this season and enter this game with a 3-2 record in their last five contests.
Robert Williams (knee), Grant Williams (illness) and Payton Pritchard (heel) are all listed as game-time decisions for Thursday. Danilo Gallinari (knee) is out.
This will be the third meeting between both teams this season. The season series is currently tied at 1-1.
Pelicans and Nuggets Set for Rocky Mountain Clash
The New Orleans Pelicans take on the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Thursday night.
The Pelicans (38-38) are slotted into the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference thanks in large part to strong recent play, but they'll enter Thursday's contest having just seen a five-game winning streak snapped with a 120-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 26 points, adding eight rebounds, seven assists and one block. Trey Murphy furnished 21 points, three boards, three assists, two blocks and one steal. C.J. McCollum supplied 15 points, three assists and one rebound. Herbert Jones delivered 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jonas Valanciunas posted 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
The Pelicans will remain without Jose Alvarado (leg) and Zion Williamson (hamstring) for Thursday's game.
The Nuggets (51-24) are trying to hold off the Memphis Grizzlies for the top spot in the Western Conference, and they've helped their cause recently with four consecutive victories. Their most recent success came Monday night, when they edged the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers by a 116-111 score. Nikola Jokic led the way with a 25-point, 17-rebound, 12-assist triple-double that included two blocks. Jamal Murray turned in 19 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals. Bruce Brown registered 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal. Michael Porter offered 15 points and six rebounds. Aaron Gordon contributed 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block.
The Nuggets will list Jokic (calf), Vlatko Cancar (ankle) and Peyton Watson (illness) as questionable for Thursday's game.
Thursday's game marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Nuggets hold a 2-1 series lead.
The Pelicans (38-38) are slotted into the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference thanks in large part to strong recent play, but they'll enter Thursday's contest having just seen a five-game winning streak snapped with a 120-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 26 points, adding eight rebounds, seven assists and one block. Trey Murphy furnished 21 points, three boards, three assists, two blocks and one steal. C.J. McCollum supplied 15 points, three assists and one rebound. Herbert Jones delivered 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jonas Valanciunas posted 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
The Pelicans will remain without Jose Alvarado (leg) and Zion Williamson (hamstring) for Thursday's game.
The Nuggets (51-24) are trying to hold off the Memphis Grizzlies for the top spot in the Western Conference, and they've helped their cause recently with four consecutive victories. Their most recent success came Monday night, when they edged the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers by a 116-111 score. Nikola Jokic led the way with a 25-point, 17-rebound, 12-assist triple-double that included two blocks. Jamal Murray turned in 19 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals. Bruce Brown registered 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal. Michael Porter offered 15 points and six rebounds. Aaron Gordon contributed 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block.
The Nuggets will list Jokic (calf), Vlatko Cancar (ankle) and Peyton Watson (illness) as questionable for Thursday's game.
Thursday's game marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Nuggets hold a 2-1 series lead.