Bucks, Nets forced to regroup after challenging losses

A pair of teams coming off tough NBA Cup losses on Friday will face off in Milwaukee on Saturday night as the Bucks meet the Brooklyn Nets.

In addition to both teams completing a back-to-back set, both will be traveling from New York City.

The Bucks’ NBA Cup hopes ended at Madison Square Garden on Friday as the team fell to Jalen Brunson and the Knicks 118-109. It was Milwaukee’s seventh consecutive loss.

Giannis Antetokounmpo made his return to the court for the crucial game for the Bucks and despite being on a minutes restriction, he had 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in just 28 minutes. He had been out since straining his adductor on Nov. 17 in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Despite his numbers and the Bucks shooting 44% (18 of 41) from beyond the arc, the minutes without Giannis continued to be a struggle.

“It was really difficult,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said about his star’s minutes restriction. “We lost the leads when we took him off the floor for the most part, but we have to do what we have to do to keep him healthy.”

The Bucks had not lost seven straight since March 2014. Still, Rivers said his team still holds a high level of confidence.

“I don’t think there’s any panic going on with us. I think guys are frustrating losing,” he said. “This is not a team I am concerned about at all. You want your team to believe. They know what we’re going through, but they believe we’re going to be really good.”

Brooklyn, already not in contention for the NBA Cup quarterfinals, fell to the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 115-103 for the Nets’ third consecutive loss.

Egor Demin led Brooklyn with 23 points and nine rebounds. Tyrese Martin and Noah Clowney each added 16 points, and Terance Mann had 14 with six assists.

After his team’s 15th loss of the season, coach Jordi Fernandez did not mince words about the Nets’ preparation and focus.

“The biggest challenge is to ask the team to play hard and stay focused. When you’re doing that, you’re not coaching,” he said, adding, “I know the group works and the group has good intentions. If there’s stretches where I have to ask the intensity to go up and the concentration to be there, we have a problem.”

On the injury front, Michael Porter Jr. (lower back tightness) missed the Friday game. Cam Thomas (hamstring strain) remains out along with Haywood Highsmith (knee).

Milwaukee got Antetokounmpo back for Friday, though his status for Saturday has not been announced. Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) did not play Friday.

The Nets pulled a bit of a stunner last season by winning three of four against Milwaukee. All but one of those games was decided by six points or less.