Doc Rivers, Lillard and Giannis speak on Bucks win over the Mavericks
Doc Rivers, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo speak about the Bucks’ win over the Mavericks on Feb. 3, 2024.
SALT LAKE CITY – The Milwaukee Bucks (33-16) look to get a bit of revenge on the Utah Jazz (24-26) tonight at 7 p.m. at the Delta Center after the Jazz won in Fiserv Forum on Jan. 8.
Damian Lillard missed that game due to personal reasons for the Bucks.
A Lillard dunk punctuated the third quarter for the Bucks, who took a 95-83 lead into the fourth against the Jazz. Milwaukee has scored 18 points off 14 Utah turnovers.
Milwaukee used a 14-0 run to star the second quarter — which stretched to 19-2 — to lead by as many as 19 in the second quarter before taking a 63-53 lead on Utah into the break. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 points in the half.
Utah closed the first quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 32-26 lead on Milwaukee after the first quarter. Collin Sexton scored 11 points for the Jazz while Antetokounmpo had eight for the Bucks.
The Bucks won their first game under Doc Rivers on Saturday in Dallas and clinched his spot as the Eastern Conference all-star coach. After having a 15-4 stretch, the Jazz have lost three in a row.
More: Doc Rivers holds his first Milwaukee Bucks practice in Dallas: ‘We changed a lot’
Is Giannis playing?
Yes, but he was a game-time decision after warming up probable, with right knee patella tendinitis. It is a new injury designation for the MVP candidate.
Khris Middleton ruled out for Bucks
After playing a season-high 38 minutes, 29 seconds on Saturday against Dallas, the Bucks held out Khris Middleton for Sunday’s game in Salt Lake City for right knee injury management.
It is the eighth game the 32-year-old all-star will miss, seven of which were part of back-to-back sets. He played in consecutive games just once, logging 15 minutes in first half action against San Antonio on Jan. 4.
Middleton had not played 38 minutes in a regular season game since March 4, 2022 in Chicago (38:45).
Brook Lopez remains out for personal reasons
The Bucks center missed Saturday’s game in Dallas and was also out for the game against the Jazz for personal reasons.
Bucks injury report
- Khris Middleton, out (right knee injury management)
- Brook Lopez, out (personal reasons)
- Damian Lillard, questionable (left ankle sprain)Lillard is starting, but he was a game time decision after his warmup.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, probable (right patella tendinitis)
- Andre Jackson Jr., probable (right wrist sprain)
Bucks starting lineup
- Guards: Malik Beasley, Damian Lillard
- Forwards: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jae Crowder
- Center: Brook Lopez
Bucks hire assistant coach Pete Dominguez
Doc Rivers has added to his coaching staff since taking over the job on Jan. 26. Dave Joerger and Rex Kalamian were at Rivers’ introductory press conference on Jan. 27, and Pete Dominguez brought aboard shortly thereafter.
Dominguez worked with Rivers in Philadelphia and with the Los Angeles Clippers and Rivers said he was instrumental building in the video room in both places. He also assisted Kalamian in coaching the Armenian national team and coached Obras Sanitarias in Argentina.
Along with video duties, Rivers said Dominguez will assist in player development, on defense and “coaching the coaches.”
“He’s a very important guy for me,” Rivers said.
Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
