The red-hot Milwaukee Bucks travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. The Bucks have reeled off 11 straight wins and moved to the top of the Eastern Conference rankings along with Boston. Meanwhile, the Bulls have struggled along the first half of the season thanks to injuries and inconsistencies. The Bulls are within striking distance of a playoff spot as they jockey for position with the Wizards and Raptors. The opening tap is scheduled for 7:30 PM EST.
After enduring a first half, for the most part, without second-leading scorer Khris Middleton, the Bucks find themselves once again at the top of the standings as the NBA All-Star break looms. On Wednesday night, the Bucks upended a short-handed Celtics team by the score of 131-125 in overtime to even things up in the loss column with Boston. The Bucks, thanks to an all-star performance from newly minted all-star Jrue Holiday, were able to stave off a Celtics team that was missing its top four players to pick up their 11th straight win. Holiday, who was recently selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in a decade, matched his career-high with 40 points to lead the Bucks to a win. He finished 8-of-12 from long range including his last three that gave the Bucks the lead for good in overtime.
“I don't really, I guess, care for how I'm playing as long as we're winning,” said Holiday, who also had seven assists. “For me, as long as we get the win, I'm OK. The only stat I look at is turnovers. That's kind of how I determine if I had a good or bad game. Tonight, what did I have, five turnovers? To me, that hurts my soul.”
Highlights from last night's WIN vs. Celtics.
?? @we_energies ?? pic.twitter.com/BdtloLbBAT
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 15, 2023
The Bucks are getting healthier and look to be one of the three favorites in the East, along with Boston and Philadelphia, to come out of the Eastern Conference to get to the NBA Finals. Middleton is back, even while on a minutes restrictions routine, and Jae Crowder was added to give the team front-court depth. And the team always has Giannis Antetokounmpo to take over a game. Milwaukee is ranked 13th in scoring offense and climbing after an offensive outburst over this win streak. They are just 22nd in the NBA in field goal percentage and 16th in 3pt field goal percentage. On the defensive end, Milwaukee is seventh in scoring defense this season. They are second in defensive field goal percentage and fourth in 3pt defense. On the glass, Milwaukee is ranked #1 in the NBA in total rebounding. They are 12th in fewest turnovers per game thus far.
Key Injuries: Bobby Portis was ruled out for the Boston game and will likely be rested through the break. Jae Crowder remains out as he prepares for his Bucks debut, some time after the break.
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