Milwaukee Bucks Ryan Rollins, Myles Turner talk about NBA Cup benefits
Milwaukee Bucks players Ryan Rollins and Myles Turner talk about how the NBA Cup competition benefits them.
CLEVELAND — The Milwaukee Bucks continue to toggle between wins and losses, and they are hoping to bounce back from a home loss against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 15 as they face the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena tonight.
Cleveland scored four points in the final five seconds of the third quarter to take a 92-88 lead after the third quarter. Donovan Mitchell had 33 points for the Cavaliers to lead all scorers. The Bucks had five players reach double figures through three quarters.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves Bucks game with injury
With 3 minutes, 3 seconds left in the first half, Giannis Antetokounmpo committed an intentional foul to stop play and immediately walked to to the Bucks locker room. The game was tied at 49 at that point, and the Cavaliers took a 59-57 lead into the break.
He was ruled out at halftime with a left groin strain.
Antetokounmpo had 14 points in 13 minutes. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 25 points on 10 of 13 shooting.
The Bucks jumped out to an 11-2 lead before taking a 33-26 advantage into the second quarter. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 11 points and handed out four assists in about seven minutes of play. The Bucks forced five turnovers and scored eight points off those extra possessions.
The Bucks have yet to lose consecutive games this season.
Milwaukee (8-6) lost at Cleveland (9-5) on Oct. 26.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes. The Bucks superstar is probable to play as he manages pain in his left knee. He has missed two games with the issue.
- Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)
- Kevin Porter Jr., out (right meniscus surgery)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, probable (left patellar tendinopathy)
Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. accepts move out of starting lineup
Somewhat surprisingly, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers changed the starting lineup prior to the team’s win over Charlotte on Nov. 15, moving guard Gary Trent Jr. to the bench and inserting Kyle Kuzma into the starting lineup. Trent, who re-signed with the Bucks as a free agent last season, started the first 12 games of the season and shot 36.8% from behind the 3-point line in averaging 10.0 points per game. As a starter, he averaged about 28 minutes per game.
“It is what it is,” he said at shootaround on Nov. 17 at Rocket Arena. “It comes with the business, it comes with the game, so it is what it is. Nobody’s worried about that. It’s already written. You only can control what you can control.”
In the last two games off the bench, in which he’s played about 22 minutes on average, Trent has gone 4-for-10 from distance.
“Whatever my teammates need me to do to try to help winning,” Trent said, “whatever role that is, everybody has to step into a role for the benefit of the team whether it’s the same person all the time or new people, it is what it is, it’s going to be what it’s going to be, continue to roll with the punches and contribute towards winning.”
Last season Trent started the first seven games of the year but battled an injury and a shooting slump (23.1% 3-point shooting) before coming off the bench the rest of the year.
Bucks starting lineup
- Guards: AJ Green, Ryan Rollins
- Forwards: Kyle Kuzma, Gianni Antetokounmpo
- Center: Myles Turner
Darius Garland out for Cavaliers
The Bucks will not have to worry about Cavaliers all-star guard Darius Garland, who continues to manage a toe injury. Garland did not play in the first game between the teams as he was still recovering from offseason surgery, and after three appearances Garland aggravated the injury.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game is a national broadcast only, streaming on Peacock with Michael Grady, Robbie Hummel and Austin Rivers on the call.
What time is the Bucks game?
6 p.m.
Bucks vs. Cavaliers odds
Cleveland is a 7.5-point favorite over Milwaukee, with the over/under of 235.5 points per bet MGM.
