Portland @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2018 ) Portland 100, Milwaukee 143

Carmelo Anthony's debut with Portland was a bit shaky and the 10-time All-Star aims for a better showing when the Trail Blazers visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. Anthony had just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting in Tuesday's 115-104 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Portland was without star point guard Damian Lillard (back) against the Pelicans while Anthony was just happy to be back on a team. "It felt great to be back in the flow of the game, be back on the court, be back to where I think I belong at," Anthony told reporters after the setback. "Just being back out there with the guys again. I think most of all the routine - team bus, team lunch, being around the guys in the locker room - just the routine I've been used to for 17 years now so getting back into that." Milwaukee is rolling along with five straight wins and nine of 10 after Wednesday's 135-127 road win over the Atlanta Hawks. The Bucks play 12 of their next 15 games at home after opening the campaign by playing 10 of 14 on the road.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, NBCS Northwest (Portland), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (5-10): Anthony started against the Pelicans, playing 24 minutes, and Portland coach Terry Stotts liked what he saw even though the 35-year-old committed five turnovers and the fact that the Trail Blazers were outscored by 20 during Anthony's time on the floor. "To be honest, I thought he looked good," Stotts told reporters. "I thought offensively he got looks, he got good looks at the basket. I thought he got fouled at least two or three times taking it strong to the basket. He then came away empty, so that kind of affected his (stat) line. But I thought, for (only) having a morning shootaround, I thought it was pretty good." Of course, the rhythm of the offense was sabotaged by the absence of Lillard, who will sit out for the second straight game on Thursday.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (11-3): Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 33 points and 11 rebounds against the Hawks and he leads the NBA with nine outings of at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Eric Bledsoe scored 17 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter to fuel a 44-point stanza against Atlanta and he has tallied 20 or more points in six of the past eight games. "He got hot and made a few 3s early," Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said afterward. "Bled was pretty good."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams split two meetings last season with Antetokounmpo averaging 28 points, 12.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists for the Bucks and McCollum averaging 31 points for the Trail Blazers.

2. Milwaukee SG Donte DiVincenzo scored 11 points against Atlanta and is averaging 13.3 over the past three games.

3. Portland waived PF-C Pau Gasol on Wednesday and the 39-year-old may join the team's coaching staff.

PREDICTION: Bucks 124, Trail Blazers 107