Bucks Zone

GAME DAY PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: The Milwaukee Bucks face Denver Nuggets in Giannis-Jokic mega clash

The Greek Freak and The Joker face each other for the first time this season.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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The Milwaukee Bucks play their first game under new head coach Doc Rivers as they play the defending champions Denver Nuggets to start a five-game road trip on Monday night.

Rivers is filling the void vacated by Adrian Griffin, who was fired 43 games into his NBA coaching career. The Bucks went 2-1 since Griffin’s firing, with assistant coach Joe Prunty calling the shots.

Rivers is coming in with Milwaukee holding a 32-14 record, good for second place in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks are just three games behind the 35-11 Boston Celtics.

Milwaukee is coming off a 141-117 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The 24-point win capped Milwaukee’s three-game homestand, where it went 2-1.

The Bucks are taking on a Nuggets team that has won their last four games at home. Denver is 18-4 at home this season and is currently in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 32-15 record.

The Greek Freak versus The Joker

Milwaukee and Denver are playing against each other for the first time this season. The Bucks-Nuggets collision will feature two of the league’s dominant big men, with Giannis Antetokounmpo going up against Nikola Jokic.

Giannis is leading the Bucks in scoring with 31.0 points and rebounding with 11.7 boards per game. The two-time MVP also leads Milwaukee in steals with 1.3 per contest.

Just like the Greek Freak, the Joker is also putting up big numbers this season. Jokic is Denver’s leading scorer with 26.3 points and leading rebounder with 12.0 points per game. Nikola also leads the Nuggets in assists with 8.9 a contest.

Injury report

Antetokounmpo (illness) is listed as probable. Out for the Bucks is TyTy Washington Jr. (two-way).

The Nuggets will be without Julian Strawther (knee) and Vlatko Cancar (knee).

Who do the Milwaukee Bucks have to give up in a trade for Dejounte Murray?

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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.