Milwaukee @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 16, 2019 ) Milwaukee 111, Memphis 101

Even without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks were barely tested while extending their winning streak to 16 games. They'll try to keep the remarkable run going Friday with a visit to the Memphis Grizzlies -- with or without the reigning MVP.

Antetokounmpo missed the 127-112 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday due to quad soreness and his teammates responded in dominant fashion, racing to a 23-point halftime lead while matching the second-longest winning streak in franchise history. "I think we took a little more ownership of what's going on out there," star forward Khris Middleton told reporters. "When Giannis is out there, he draws such a huge crowd that we play through him a lot. Without him tonight, we know we have to do a little bit more." The Grizzlies are on a winning streak of their own with back-to-back victories and they can match their longest run of the season with an upset of the Bucks. Dillon Brooks scored 27 points to lead Memphis to a 115-108 triumph at Phoenix on Wednesday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE BUCKS (22-3): Point guard Eric Bledsoe filled the void against the Pelicans with 29 points on 10-of-13 shooting while Middleton chipped in 24. George Hill provided a nice boost off the bench with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals in just 19 minutes. Hill made all three of his 3-point tries and he is 15-for-22 from long distance over the course of an eight-game hot stretch.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (8-16): Rookie Ja Morant put an exclamation on Wednesday's victory with an emphatic jam in the final minute, highlighting an otherwise quiet night for the star guard. "Oh my gosh, I was screaming," Brooks told reporters of the dunk over Phoenix big man Aron Baynes. "That's how electric he is. He's a special player -- even if he's having a tough game, he can find a way to electrify. That just put us over the top." Morant finished with 13 points in his second game back from a back issue.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Friday represents one of three road games the Bucks will play out of 15 from Nov. 21-Dec. 19.

2. Grizzlies SG Grayson Allen (ankle) missed Wednesday's win and is day-to-day.

3. Antetokounmpo averaged 29 points in 28 minutes as the teams split two meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Bucks 115, Grizzlies 106