Jim Ovcharsky talks about the progress of Bucks coach Adrian Griffin
Adrian Griffin’s first few games as Bucks coach were shaky, but Jim Owczarski discusses how he’s really improved.
The Milwaukee Bucks (11-5) host the Portland Trail Blazes (4-11) on Sunday afternoon at Fiserv Forum, with a chance to win for the seventh time in their last eight games. It also marks only the second time the Bucks have played a Western Conference opponent.
Portland shot 58.8% from behind the three-point line and scored 20 points on 10 Milwaukee turnovers to take a 68-52 lead into halftime. The Bucks were just 6-for-21 from behind the 3-point line.
The Bucks suffered another slow start, trailing the Trail Blazers 31-26 after one quarter. Milwaukee was just 3-for-10 from behind the three-point line while Portland made 56.5% of its shots.
Kris Middleton out due to Achilles tendonitis
The Bucks suffered a severe blow during their victory over Washington on Friday, when Khris Middleton left the game after the end of the first half due to tightness in the left Achilles tendon. Although imaging was not necessary that day, he was immediately ruled out of Sunday’s game due to tendinitis.
“There is no timetable (for a return), just day by day and see how he responds to treatment,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said. “I think things are promising.”
When asked if Middleton could return for Tuesday’s season game at Miami, Griffin added: “We’ll see. Again, continue to evaluate him every day and he’s getting daily therapy and we’ll see how he feels every day.”
Middleton appeared to be moving well and politely declined to comment before the match, indicating that he was on his way to treatment.
Middleton looked as if he might step up during a season-long minutes restriction on Nov. 22 in Boston when he played 28 games against the Celtics. He hovered around 20 in his first 12 games.
Is Giannis playing?
Antetokounmpo is playing, Griffin said. The former league MVP is still suffering from the illness, but played through it in Boston and against Washington.
Pax injury report
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, possible (non-coronavirus illness)
- Khris Middleton out (left Achilles tendonitis)
- Jae Crowder, outside (adductor surgery)
Bucks starting lineup
- guards: Damian Lillard, owner of Beasley
- Attackers: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Andre Jackson Jr
- center: Brook Lopez
Damian Lillard faces the Trail Blazers for the first time
The 33-year-old guard is facing his old team for the first time since an offseason trade sent him to Milwaukee, but Lillard said this isn’t the reunion that will hurt him the most — which will come with the Bucks traveling to Portland on Jan. 31.
“I thought I would anticipate it more but I wasn’t really into it,” he said.
Lillard spent 11 years in the Pacific Northwest and is the Trail Blazers’ all-time leading scorer. He also earned a spot on the NBA’s Top 75 teams while in Portland, winning Rookie of the Year and making seven All-Star and All-NBA teams.
“They don’t feel like coming here; it feels like another game where I’m going to see the people I used to spend a lot of time with,” he said. “The team is really different. Obviously the cast is the same as the ones I’ve played with over the past few years, but it’s not; I don’t think it’s going to be a big deal or nothing like that. That will be the case when I return to Portland.
Portland coach Chauncey Billups said he met with Lillard on Saturday night and a little bit during warmups on Sunday.
“It’s obviously weird for me to plan on playing against Dame,” Billups said. “So, it’s going to be a little different for all of us.”
“Prone to fits of apathy. Introvert. Award-winning internet evangelist. Extreme beer expert.”