In the Buzz City, a back-and-forth series concludes between two Eastern Conference teams with contrasting NBA playoff aspirations. NBA PLAYOFFS.
The Charlotte Hornets host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night, looking to redeem themselves after a resounding 123-85 loss at Milwaukee earlier in the week.
Milwaukee Continues at La Cumbre
Milwaukee comes into the showdown riding a three-game winning streak, with a 38-21 record on the season and sitting in second place in the Central Division.
Sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, they are one game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers at the top and hold a comfortable five-game lead over the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic in a safe position for the playoffs.
In their recent showdown with Charlotte, the Bucks put on a dominant performance, closing the first quarter on a decisive 28-7 run and maintaining control throughout the game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 24 points and eight rebounds in the win. Milwaukee's offensive prowess is evident, ranking second in the league with an average of 121.8 points per game.
They are also proficient in rebounding, securing 11th place with 44.2 boards per game, and in playmaking, ranking 13th with 26.8 assists per game.
However, their defensive efforts rank 22nd in the league, allowing 117.7 points per game.
Antetokounmpo continues to be the driving force for Milwaukee, averaging an impressive 30.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.
Brook Lopez, Damian Lillard, Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton (currently sidelined with an ankle injury) and Malik Beasley contribute significantly to the team's scoring.
The Bucks stand out for their efficiency, ranking fifth in field goal shooting percentage at 49.5%, fifth in three-pointers per game at 14.3 and ninth in three-point accuracy at 37.7%.
Middleton is out indefinitely with an ankle injury, while Jackson Jr. is questionable due to illness.
Keeping an eye on Jackson Jr.'s status will be crucial for Milwaukee as they look to extend their winning streak and maintain their dominance over the Hornets.
Good morning.@Jockey x #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/J3gzcULdsz
- Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 29, 2024
Hornets Need to Get on Track with Wins
Hoping to avoid a season sweep, the Hornets ran into an obstacle on the road against the Bucks in the first half of this back-and-forth series Tuesday night after a five-game winning streak in the previous six games.
The Hornets' season record is now 15-43, placing them in fourth place in the Southeast Division, considerably behind the Miami Heat, who lead by 18 games.
Ranked 13th in the Eastern Conference, they are 18 games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the final guaranteed playoff spot and 13 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff spot.
Despite starting with a 9-4 lead less than four minutes into the game against Milwaukee, Charlotte's fortunes took a negative turn.
They found themselves trailing by 16 at the end of the first quarter, by 32 at halftime, by 47 after three quarters and by as much as 49 in the resounding defeat.
The Hornets' shooting efficiency plummeted to 37% from the field, with a meager 11-of-40 from beyond the arc, in addition to 13 turnovers in the loss. Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 17 points.
On the season, the Hornets struggle offensively, ranking 28th in the league with 107.7 points per game.
His rebounding performance is equally poor, ranking 28th with 41.1 boards per game, while his assists average of 24.8 per game ranks 24th.
Defensively, they allow an average of 118.2 points per game, ranking them 24th in the league.
LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller contribute significantly on the offensive end, with Mark Williams, Theo Maledon, Tre Mann, JT Thor, Seth Curry, Davis Bertans, Grant Williams, Cody Martin and Nick Richards providing rotational depth for the Hornets.
The Hornets' struggles extend to their shooting percentages, ranking 27th in field goal shooting percentage at 45.7%, 21st in three-pointers per game with 12 and 20th in three-point percentage at 36%.
