Bucks Zone

GAME DAY PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: Bucks' Damian Lillard faces the Portland Trail Blazers for the first time in his career

The Bucks are a tough nut to crack at home.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
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A team that has been dominant at home will go up against an opponent that struggles to get wins on the road as the Milwaukee Bucks host the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday afternoon.

Milwaukee has won its last six home games and is 7-1 at the Fiserv Forum.

The Bucks, who are fresh from a 131-128 In-Season Tournament win over the Washington Wizards, will come into the contest tied with two other teams at second place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Orlando all sport 11-5 records. The Boston Celtics lead the East with 12 wins and four losses.

The Bucks have gotten a massive lift from veteran center Brook Lopez in their last two games.

Lopez scored 28 points when the Bucks lost to the Celtics on Wednesday night. The sweet-shooting big man sustained his fiery form when he fired a career-high 39 points in their win over the Wizards on Friday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard scored 31 points each in the win, setting a franchise record of having three teammates scoring at least 30 points in a game.

The Blazers are eyeing a rare road win after winning against the Utah Jazz, 121-105, on Wednesday night. The win snapped Portland’s eight-game slide, hiking its record to 4-11. The Trail Blazers have lost their last four games on the road, where they are just 2-6 in the season.

Injury report

Khris Middleton (Achilles) and Jae Crowder (left adductor surgery) are out for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo is listed as probable due to a non-Covid illness.

Deandre Ayton (back) and Justin Minaya (illness) are listed as probable, while Anfernee Simons (thumb), Ish Wainwright (knee), and Robert Williams III (right knee surgery) are out for the Blazers.

Report identifies free agent Stanley Johnson as someone who can improve the Bucks’ defense

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.