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For the second time in 2024, the Milwaukee Bucks (32-16; 18-29-1 ATS) and Utah Jazz (24-26; 29-21-0 ATS) will collide on the court. Round one was in Wisconsin, with the Jazz winning 132-116. On Sunday, Salt Lake City's Delta Center will host at 8:10 p.m. EDT. Each team began the weekend fresh off a loss. Will the Bucks avenge January's defeat, or are the Jazz going to sweep Milwaukee?
(Published before Milwaukee's game on Saturday)
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A pair of losses, the latest in Portland, is not what these championship-hopeful Bucks expect from themselves. Armed with a new head coach, Milwaukee will try to fix a defensive rating that's ranked 19th in the league. The Bucks allow the fifth-lowest three-point percentage and the 10th-fewest three-point attempts per game, so there are strengths. However, they're 17th in rim defense and 28th in midrange defense. Milwaukee also forces the fewest turnovers per game. The Bucks are decent at keeping opponents off the free throw line, yet those opportunities have led to opponents hitting 81.5% (30th) of their free throws. Fortunately, the Bucks are ninth in defensive rebounding percentage. This group is trying to improve before the postseason, and this is another opportunity.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee is third in offensive rating and second in points per game. Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.9 ppg) is leading the charge. The Bucks have the second-highest true shooting percentage this season, carried by top-10 efficiency from every part of the floor. Milwaukee averages the second-most free throw attempts per game too. They're fourth in turnover percentage, but only 27th in offensive rebounding percentage. Regardless of offensive rebounding, the Bucks are undeniably talented on the offensive end.