Milwaukee @ LA preview
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Last Meeting ( Mar 4, 2024 ) L.A. Clippers 106, Milwaukee 113
The Los Angeles Clippers will look to avenge their recent loss in Milwaukee as they host the visiting Bucks on Sunday afternoon.
Since losing to the Bucks on Monday, the Clippers have won two straight. The Bucks have gone 0-2 to start their four-game California road trip after falling to the Lakers on Friday night in a heartbreaker, 123-122.
The Clippers will be on the second day of a back-to-back at home after taking down the Chicago Bulls on Saturday afternoon, 112-102.
Paul George led Los Angeles with 22 points with Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell following with 19 and 18, respectively. James Harden finished with a 14-point, 11-rebound and 10-assist triple-double.
The Clippers limited Bulls star DeMar DeRozan to eight baskets in 19 attempts, and the coaching staff credited the defense for the win.
"Our urgency, particularly defensively. We really wanted to come out and make DeRozan uncomfortable," Clippers assistant coach Dan Craig said. Head coach Tyronn Lue coached the game with a mask on but did not speak before or after the game due to illness.
Leonard leads the Clippers with 24.1 points and 1.8 steals per game this season. Ivica Zubac tops the team with 9.2 rebounds and Harden leads with 8.3 assists per game.
For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points, grabbed 14 boards and dished 12 assists in Friday's losing effort. Damian Lillard added 28 points and 12 assists while Pat Connaughton chipped in 17 off the bench.
"I didn't think we had a great defensive night tonight," Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. "Again we go on these bad offensive stretches and they get out in transition."
Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee with 30.8 points, 11.2 boards and 1.2 steals per game. Lillard is contributing 6.8 assists and Brook Lopez averages 2.6 blocks per contest.
On the injury front, the biggest question mark is when Bucks guard Khris Middleton can return return from an ankle injury. He has not played since Feb. 6 and has been ruled out for Sunday. Russell Westbrook is out for the Clippers after having surgery to repair a fractured left hand on Monday.
These teams faced off for the first time this season on Monday with the Bucks pulling off a 113-106 comeback win despite Antetokounmpo being sidelined with left Achilles tendinitis.
Lillard led Milwaukee with 41 points while Bobby Portis added a key 28 points and 16 rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench. George and Harden each scored 29 for Los Angeles, who were outscored 40-25 in the fourth quarter.
Milwaukee is looking for a two-game season series sweep of the Clippers for the second straight season. The Bucks own the all-time series advantage 72-54.
This matchup of top-four teams from each conference projects to be another good offensive battle. The Clippers rank fourth in the NBA with an offensive rating of 118.9 and the Bucks are right behind them at 118.6. Milwaukee is also second in the league in points per game at 120.9.
--Field Level Media