Indiana @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 16, 2019 ) Milwaukee 102, Indiana 83

The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been virtually unstoppable with 26 wins in 30 games to start the season as they return home to entertain the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Milwaukee improved to 9-0 in sets of back-to-back games with a 123-102 victory over New York on Saturday as Antetokounmpo, the reigning league MVP, recorded his third triple-double of the season.

Antetokounmpo had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists while making 8-for-10 from the field in 26 minutes, leaving his season averages at 31.4 points, 12.7 boards and 5.5 assists. Indiana has won five straight after a 119-105 victory over Sacramento on Friday, avoiding a letdown after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 105-102 on Tuesday, while the Bucks kept their mind on business Saturday after beating the Lakers 111-104 on Thursday. "We know they're a top team and we have to respect them for that," Pacers center Myles Turner told reporters about Milwaukee. "But we have to go with the mindset that we're going to punch first and, hopefully, leave there with a win." The Bucks have won three straight against Indiana after handing the Pacers their worst loss of the season, 102-83 on Nov. 16 behind 26 points, 13 rebounds and six assists from Antetokounmpo.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Sportsnet One

ABOUT THE PACERS (20-9): Malcolm Brogdon leads the team in scoring at 18.7 points per game despite not reaching that number in the last three games and was second in the league entering Saturday by making 93.3 percent of his free throws. Domantas Sabonis had his streak of 13 games with 10 or more rebounds snapped Friday when he grabbed nine and he was fourth in the league entering Saturday at 13.2 per game. Turner has produced 47 points and nine blocks in his last three games, raising his season averages to 2.3 blocks - fourth in the NBA - and 11.6 points.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (26-4): Khris Middleton (18.2 points) scored a game-high 23 on Saturday while adding six rebounds and five assists, and has recorded 20 or more points in five of his last seven games. Kyle Korver, 38, scored 17 points for the second time in three games, making 6-for-10 from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range. Milwaukee is without backcourt starters Eric Bledsoe (right leg fracture) and Wesley Matthews, who missed his first game of the season Saturday with a right thigh contusion.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Bucks lead the league in scoring at 120.7 points per game.

2. Indiana G Jeremy Lamb (14 points per game) did not play Friday because of a groin injury sustained against the Lakers and is questionable to play Sunday.

3. Milwaukee is 8-0 versus the Central Division.

PREDICTION: Bucks 102, Pacers 93