Chicago @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 30, 2019 ) Milwaukee 123, Chicago 102

The Milwaukee Bucks own the best record in the NBA and are showing no sign of slowing down after extending their latest winning streak to six straight with a 117-97 victory at Brooklyn on Saturday. The Bucks will try to make it seven in a row when they host the Chicago Bulls on Monday.

Milwaukee, which takes off for Europe and a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA's first ever game in Paris on Friday, held the Nets to 33.3 percent from the floor in Saturday's triumph. "The focus of the group for four quarters, I think, was closer to where we want it to be," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters after the win. "That's been one of the themes the last day or so. Just both ends of the court, the discipline was closer to what we need." The Bulls traded wins and losses over the last five games, with both losses coming on the road at top teams from the Eastern Conference - Boston and Philadelphia. Chicago built some momentum heading into its showdown on Monday by riding 42 points from Zach LaVine to a 118-116 home triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

TIME: 5 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Chicago, FS Wisconsin

ABOUT THE BULLS (16-28): Chicago overcame a 19-point, second-half deficit on Saturday behind LaVine, who scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. "It's make-or-break time," LaVine told reporters. "We're not going to get back in the game by just playing nicely, so I'm going to attack their body, try to make them make a call, got some tough finishes, made some tough shots. But I'll take that upon myself." LaVine leads the team at an average of 25 points and pushed that number to 30.6 points in 10 games this month - a stretch that began after he was held to 19 points on 7-of-23 shooting in a 123-102 home loss to Milwaukee on Dec. 30.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (38-6): Superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting and 12 rebounds on Saturday but drew praise from Budenholzer for the way he was able to fight through turnovers and foul trouble without losing focus. "I think his approach with the officials, with his teammates, with everybody, the focus to go to the next play or stay with his team and stay engaged or support, it's been a real strength," Budenholzer told reporters of Antetokounmpo. "I think the whole team sees it. We talk about leadership, that's another way you lead. When things don't go your way, when you keep your composure and you kind of keep playing, keep grinding, everyone else follows his lead." Antetokounmpo is second in the NBA in scoring (30 points) and sixth in rebounds (12.8).

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Bulls PG Kris Dunn scored 10 points on Saturday, snapping a streak of five straight games in single digits.

2. Bucks C Robin Lopez (illness) sat out Saturday and is day-to-day.

3. Milwaukee owns a nine-game winning streak in the series, including the first three meetings this season.

PREDICTION: Bucks 125, Bulls 110