Milwaukee @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2019 ) Atlanta 102, Milwaukee 111

The Milwaukee Bucks look to defeat Atlanta for the 10th time in the past 11 meetings when they visit the Hawks on Friday. Milwaukee will be looking to bounce back from a rare setback as it fell 121-109 to the host Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day.

The Bucks possess the best record in the NBA but they didn't play like an elite team against Philadelphia as they trailed by as many as 29 points during the contest. "We had to go through this. We had to go down 30," Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo said after the loss. "We had to have our character tested because the only way you get better is when you face adversity. Our team is going to be better." Atlanta has dropped eight consecutive games and owns the worst record in the NBA at 6-25. Standout point guard Trae Young is too often a one-man band and he had 30 points, 11 assists and four steals in Monday's 121-118 loss to the host Cleveland Cavaliers.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Southeast (Atlanta)

ABOUT THE BUCKS (27-5): Antetokounmpo had a shaky game against Philadelphia as he was a porous 8-of-27 shooting - including missing all seven 3-point attempts - while recording 18 points and 14 rebounds. The double-double was the 24th of the season for Antekounmpo, who is averaging just 19.3 points over the past three contests. Small forward Khris Middleton tallied 31 points of 12-of-21 shooting - matching his season high of five 3-pointers - while guard George Hill continued his recent fine play with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and he is averaging 14.6 points over the past five games.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (6-25): Power forward John Collins was back in the lineup against Cleveland after serving a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's drug policy and he recorded 27 points and 10 rebounds. Collins said going up against Kevin Love "knocks the rust off" but the third-year pro looked solid while making 12-of-20 field-goal attempts. Collins is averaging 18.7 points and nine rebounds in six games after averaging 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds last season when he started 59 of 61 games played.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Bucks won this season's first two matchups by an average of 8.5 points.

2. Milwaukee SG Wesley Matthews had just four points against Philadelphia after averaging 16 over the previous two games.

3. Atlanta C Alex Len (ankle) is questionable after being injured on Monday.

PREDICTION: Bucks 115, Hawks 102