Discussing Damian Lillard and the Bucks in the second half
How much does Milwaukee’s title hopes hinge on Damian Lillard? Jim Owczarski, Lori Nickel and JR Radcliffe discuss on the Point Forward podcast.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Milwaukee Bucks play their first game out of the NBA all-star break against the top team in the Western Conference on Friday night, visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.
Tipoff is at 9 p.m. The game is broadcasting nationally on ESPN and locally on WMLW and CBS 58.
Malik Beasley scored 14 points in third quarter to give the Bucks a 87-70 lead after three. Beasley didn’t take a shot in the first half, but he hit 4 three-pointers in the third for the Bucks.
Minnesota overcame an early deficit to take a 57-51 lead at break thanks to 23 second-chance points and a dozen points apiece by Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. Brook Lopez scored 16 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 15 for Milwaukee.
The Bucks took a 31-27 lead after the first quarter thanks to 12 points from Brook Lopez. Minnesota stuck close thanks to 15 second-chance points off eight offensive rebounds.
The Bucks (35-21) come into the game having lost seven of 10 since Doc Rivers took over on Jan. 29. The Timberwolves (39-16) had won four in a row before the break.
Minnesota blew out Milwaukee 129-105 on Feb. 8 at Fiserv Forum.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes. Bucks superstar began the day probable to play with right patellar tendinitis. He has been managing that injury since Feb. 4 in Utah, but Antetokounmpo has not missed a game.
Milwaukee Bucks injury report
Bucks starting lineup
HOW TO WATCH: The broadcast of Friday’s Milwaukee Bucks game vs. Timberwolves will be found in unusual places
When will Khris Middleton play?
The three-time all-star suffered a sprained ankle against Phoenix on Feb. 6 and missed the final five games before the all-star break. He did not practice on Thursday in Minneapolis and Rivers said Middleton will be out tonight against the Timberwolves and “probably” out for Sunday’s matinee on the road Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. But, Middleton did a walkthrough on Thursday and light court work the last two days — which was enough for Rivers to say if it were a playoff series Middleton could go.
The Bucks return home to play the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 27, which is exactly three weeks from the injury.
Before the Bucks took on the Timberwolves, Rivers acknowledged what kind of loss Middleton has been — particularly because he said “no one” on the team outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard could replicate the shot creation Middleton brings.
“There’s no one can do what Khris does other than Khris,” Rivers said. “We already have Dame, we have Giannis, we have a bunch of guys that can catch-and-shoot. Malik (Beasley) is a great catch-and-shoot player. Bobby (Portis) is knocking ’em down. Brook (Lopez) obviously does that. (Gallinari) can do that. ‘Gal’ may be a guy that can create from the elbows and stuff. He’s such a good passer. But we just; that’s an empty spot. You don’t try and fill it because no one on our team can do it.”
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.
