Golden State @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 18, 2017 ) Milwaukee 92, Golden State 117

The Golden State Warriors did not approach their game against the Los Angeles Clippers with the appropriate spirit, according to coach Steve Kerr, leading to a rare loss. The Warriors will try to get some of their star players back on the court and improve that spirit when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

Golden State had its latest winning streak come to an end at five straight games with Wednesday's 125-106 home loss to the Clippers while the All-Star backcourt duo of Klay Thompson (rest) and Stephen Curry (ankle) watched from the bench. "Our spirit wasn't right. Our energy wasn't right," Kerr told reporters. "We weren't connected, and they were. The Clippers came in here probably insulted that we were resting Klay and then obviously Steph goes down, so the game changes and they came in and just kicked our (butt) and they deserved everything they got because their spirit was right." The Bucks traded wins and losses over the last six games but earned a 110-103 win over Orlando on Wednesday despite going 4-of-19 from 3-point range. "We got lucky," Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd told reporters. "In this league, if you don't make 3s you're going to get beat. We've got to get better at making open shots."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (33-9): Curry recently sat out 11 straight games with an ankle sprain before coming back on Dec. 30 and averaging 35.2 points in five games -- all wins. The two-time MVP tweaked his ankle during shootaround before Wednesday's game, but the injury is not thought to be as serious as the one that kept him out 11 games, and he is day-to-day. Golden State could have used Curry and Thompson Wednesday on the defensive end against Los Angeles shooting guard Lou Williams, who dropped 50 points and went 8-of-16 from 3-point range in a Curry-like performance.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (22-18): Milwaukee got at least 14 points from each of its starters on Wednesday and watched those five combine to go 39-of-64 from the field. That starting unit is led by MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the way with 26 points on 10-of-15 from the field on Saturday and is shooting 61.1 percent from the field in six games this month. Antetokounmpo is getting plenty of help from shooting guard Khris Middleton, who scored at least 20 points in each of the Bucks' last four wins.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors SF Kevin Durant became the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points on Wednesday.

2. Milwaukee PF John Henson recorded a double-double in each of the team's last two wins.

3. Golden State took the last three and six of seven in the series.

PREDICTION: Warriors 123, Bucks 113