Milwaukee @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 28, 2019 ) L.A. Clippers 118, Milwaukee 128

Kawhi Leonard got the better of Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo in last season's Eastern Conference finals, when the Toronto Raptors got past the Bucks in six games on their way to winning the NBA title. The two meet for the first time since that encounter when the Bucks visit Leonard's new team, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Leonard, who was NBA Finals MVP last season, is making his mark with his new team by averaging 29.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.3 steals in six games. "Kawhi is a winner," reserve forward Montrezl Harrell told reporters after Sunday's 105-94 home win over the Utah Jazz. "He's a superstar and he knows how to win. He's won on multiple big stages." Antetokounmpo, the reigning NBA MVP, has been on fire to start the season with seven straight double-doubles and he recorded 34 points and 15 rebounds in Monday's 134-106 road win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The easy victory came in the opener of a stretch in which seven of eight are on the road, leading Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer to say the following: "I thought the guys had a great focus. That's a good way to start the road trip."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS ESPN, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE BUCKS (5-2): Point guard Eric Bledsoe had a superb game against the Timberwolves with a season-best 22 points to go with nine rebounds and six assists. "We just want to play our game from the jump," Bledsoe said afterward of a game in which Milwaukee outscored Minnesota 70-49 over the final two quarters. "We don't want to wait until the fourth quarter to do what we do. We want to start early and wear teams down because we're so deep." Forward Khris Middleton matched his season high of 26 points and topped 20 points four times this season.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (5-2): Los Angeles is 2-0 on a five-game homestand and won its four games at the Staples Center by an average of 10.5 points. The fast start fueled by Leonard is encouraging with overall team chemistry still in the development stages and with All-Star forward Paul George, who had offseason surgery on both shoulders, close to joining the mix. "Paul is working hard and putting in a lot of 'live' work," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "We don't have a timeline on his return yet, but we'll be reassessing it next week."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Clippers have won 10 of the past 14 meetings, including a two-game split last season.

2. Los Angeles SG Landry Shamet is just 7-of-27 shooting over the past three games.

3. Milwaukee backup SG Donte DiVincenzo scored a season-best 17 off the bench on Monday.

PREDICTION: Clippers 116, Bucks 108