Bucks Zone

GAME DAY PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: The Milwaukee Bucks clash with the Minnesota Wolves to start a four-game homestand

The Bucks will play their first home game under Doc Rivers.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
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After an unproductive road trip, the Milwaukee Bucks return home to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.

The Bucks went 1-4 in their recently ended five-game road trip, which ended with back-to-back losses against the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns. Milwaukee will be looking to take advantage of a friendly stretch as it will play its next four games at home.

Doc debuts at home

Doc Rivers will be playing his first game as a Bucks coach at the Fiserv Forum, where Milwaukee is currently 21-5 – one of the best home records in the season. The unproductive road trip pulled the Bucks down to the third spot in the Easter Conference after occupying the second place for several weeks.

Milwaukee will come into the contest tied with the New York Knicks for the third and fourth spots in the East with identical 33-18 records. Minnesota is in a three-way logjam from first to third spots in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets with similar 35-16 records.

The Bucks are just 5-5 in their last ten games, averaging 119.6 points, 43.1 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game. Milwaukee’s opponents have averaged 117.9 points per game in their last ten games, though Rivers has been pointing out the team’s improved defensive effort as of late.

The Timberwolves are also 5-5 in their last ten games, where they averaged 111.6 points, 43.2 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 6.4 steals, and 5.2 blocks per game. Minnesota’s defense has been holding up as it has limited its opponents to just 105.9 points a game in their last ten matches.

Injury report

The Bucks will be without two starters against the Wolves as Brook Lopez (personal reasons) and Khris Middleton (ankle) will sit out. Damian Lillard (ankle) is listed as questionable, while Cameron Payne (knee), Jae Crowder (ankle), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) are listed as probable.

Jaylen Clark (Achilles) is out for the Wolves.

Could a familiar face return to the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline?

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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.