Milwaukee @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 15, 2018 ) Denver 134, Milwaukee 123

The odds to make the playoffs are stacked against the Denver Nuggets as they begin a three-game homestand Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Denver sits two games behind Utah and New Orleans, who are tied for seventh and own the final two postseason spots in the Western Conference, and while the Nuggets have a favorable schedule down the stretch, so do the Jazz and Pelicans.

Denver will persevere without Gary Harris, their second-leading scorer who missed the last seven games with a knee injury. "Unfortunately, I don't think we're going to see him for a while,'' Nuggets coach Michael Malone told the Denver Post. "Just being completely honest. Obviously, I am not a doctor, but in talking to our training staff, Gary has been working hard to get back, but I think he is still a ways away.'' Milwaukee is jockeying for position with Washington and Miami for the final three playoff spots in the East while well clear of ninth-place Detroit after a 124-122 overtime victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday. Denver won the first of two meetings this season 134-123 on Feb. 15 behind 30 points, a career-high 17 assists and 15 rebounds from Nikola Jokic for its third straight victory in the series.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Altitude 2 (Denver)

ABOUT THE BUCKS (41-35): Giannis Antetokounmpo (27.3 points, 10.0 rebounds per game) recorded 27 points and 16 rebounds Friday, giving him five 25-point, 15-rebound games this season -- second-most in the Eastern Conference to Philadelphia's Joel Embiid (six). Eric Bledsoe (17.6 points) is averaging 24 over his last four games after erupting for a season-high 39 versus the Lakers. John Henson (8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds) remains day-to-day after missing his second straight game Friday with a finger injury while Malcolm Brogdon (13.3 points), who has missed the last 26 games with a quad injury, is working his way toward a return before the regular season ends.

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (41-35): Jokic (17.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 6.0 assists) is averaging 23.2 points over his last 12 games after scoring 23 in Friday's 126-115 victory at Oklahoma City that capped a 3-4 road trip while Paul Millsap (14.8 points) recorded a season-high 36. Veteran guard Devin Harris (8.4 points), who was acquired at the trade deadline, reached double figures in points in eight of his last 11 games after scoring 12 on Friday. Will Barton (15.2 points) replaced Gary Harris in the starting lineup and averaged 17.4 during the road trip.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Jokic has 14 triple-doubles since the start of the 2016-17 season, fourth-most in the NBA behind Russell Westbrook (65), LeBron James (29) and James Harden (25).

2. Milwaukee is 17-12 versus the West this season as it plays its final regular-season game against the conference this campaign. The 17 wins are tied for second-most among Eastern Conference teams with Philadelphia behind only Toronto (19).

3. Denver has won seven straight at home versus Milwaukee, which is 2-1 on its four-game road trip and trying for consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1999-2001.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 110, Bucks 106