With Giannis Antetokounmpo back from injury, the Milwaukee Bucks look to finally gain some momentum as they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.
It was an eventful return for Antetokounmpo on Saturday in a 112-103 victory at Chicago. The superstar scored 29 points, including a last-second windmill dunk when the game was already decided that caused a skirmish between the teams afterwards.
“We’re 11th in the East, we just need to keep finding our identity. If we have to get a little bit scrappy at the end, so be it,” Antetokounmpo said. “We’re not the champs, why should we play the clock out? We’re fighting for our lives right now. If we keep on losing, half the team is probably not going to be here (and) we’re going to miss the playoffs.”
Milwaukee has won two of their last three games after previously losing 13 of 16. Ryan Rollins added 20 for the Bucks on Saturday while Bobby Portis scored 17 with 11 rebounds off the bench.
“(Antetokounmpo) knows with the spacing, using the guards, when you’re on the ball you have guys slipping,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “I thought our spacing was fantastic. If Giannis can set the pick and you can come off, you’re going to get a shot or you can turn the corner. You don’t go into a long drought when Giannis is on the floor.”
Antetokounmpo is scoring 28.9 points per game with 10.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 18 of the Bucks’ 32 games so far this season. Rollins leads among the qualified Bucks with 17.2 points and 5.8 assists.
Charlotte comes in off two consecutive victories, most recently on Friday in a 120-105 road win over the Orlando Magic.
LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 22 points and added seven rebounds and five assists. Kon Knueppel added 16 points before leaving in the first half with an ankle injury. Miles Bridges added 16 points with 11 rebounds.
“Bridges took on the matchup with (Paolo) Banchero to start the game. He had a sense of purpose and physicality and the group around him had great shift intentionality,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “To win the rebounding margin against that big physical team was impressive and it’s a commitment from all five guys to be physical.”
Knueppel (ankle) had X-rays on his right ankle that came back negative. Mason Plumlee (groin), Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) and Grant Williams (knee) all missed Friday’s game and are listed as out.
Milwaukee was without Gary Trent Jr. (calf) on Saturday in addition to Taurean Prince (herniated disc), who remains out indefinitely.
It already has been an entertaining series between the teams this season, with each team taking one game in November. The Hornets won at home 111-100 on Nov. 12, before the Bucks won an overtime thriller 147-134 at home on Nov. 14.
Antetokounmpo had 25 points and 18 assists in the Milwaukee victory, while Kyle Kuzma led Milwaukee with 29 points. Knueppel shined in his first game in his hometown with 32 points while Bridges also had 32.
