Jim Owczarski on the Bucks' winning streak and Giannis' greatness
The Milwaukee Bucks' recent game seems to show that they have turned things around. And where does Giannis stand in NBA history? Jim Owczarski discusses.
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers ended the Milwaukee Bucks' 15-game home winning streak on Monday. Tonight the Bucks look to end the Pacers' four-game winning streak at Gainbridge Field House. The meeting time is 6:00 p.m. CT.
Indiana (18-14) has already won the season series against Milwaukee (24-9) and has won three of the four games so far.
The Bucks lead the Pacers 68-66 in a high-scoring first half in which all ten Bucks played scored. All 10 Pacers who played also scored points. Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 13, while Obi Toppin led Indiana with 12 off the bench.
The Pacers took an early 8-3 lead and took a 33-31 lead after the first quarter. Seven of the eight Bucks playing scored, while Jalen Smith led the Pacers with seven points.
Khris Middleton will play for the Bucks
Three-time All-Star Khris Middleton was listed as questionable earlier in the day because of two injuries he sustained for the game against the Pacers, but Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said he will be ready to play. In addition to treating a right knee injury, he is also suffering from a left wrist sprain. Middleton underwent surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his wrist in the summer of 2022 and missed the first 20 games of the season after recovering.
Griffin said the team will continue to monitor the wrist sprain.
The Bucks travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs on Thursday, and Middleton has yet to play back-to-back games.
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What is Bucks' record without Middleton?
Milwaukee is 4-1 in games Middleton has missed this season.
Bucks injury report
- Middleton, questionable (treatment for right knee injury and left wrist sprain)
- Pat Connaughton, questionable (no COVID illness)
- Jae Crowder out (left adductor muscle surgery) Crowder is nearing the eight-week mark since his Nov. 14 surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle. Since then, its activity has gradually increased.
- AJ Green out (nose fracture) Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said Green broke his nose during the team's practice on Dec. 31. A procedure was considered since he did not play against Indiana on Monday, but he will return to the team for the Spurs' game on Thursday. However, Green is familiar with the injury. He broke his nose last season while practicing with the Wisconsin Herd on Oct. 28 and had surgery on Nov. 1. Green returned to action on November 16.
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Is Giannis playing?
Yes.
Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double against Indiana on New Year's Day. He scored 30 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and dished out 11 assists.
BUCKS vs PACERS: Why were Giannis and his teammates upset with Indiana after the Dec. 13 game?
Bucks starter
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley
- Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton
- Center: Brook Lopez
What happened between the Bucks and Pacers?
It was an interesting season series. First, Antetokounmpo scored 54 points at Indiana on Nov. 9, but the Bucks lost a double-digit lead in a loss. Then the Pacers knocked the Bucks out of the in-season tournament with a win in the semifinals in Las Vegas on Dec. 7.
On December 13, Antetokounmpo set a franchise record with 64 points, but this led to several heated conversations between players and staff from both teams after the game. The Bucks didn't like Pacers players leaving the court without shaking hands, and there was also a misunderstanding about where the game ball was.
In the final game between the teams on Monday, the Pacers overcame two 15-point deficits to give Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton his first win as a pro in his home state.