After dropping seven straight games, the Milwaukee Bucks will look to win two on the trot as they take on the Washington Wizards tonight at Capital One Arena. With Kevin Porter Jr. back for the first time since Opening Night, the Bucks reminded fans of the promise to start the season as they dismantled an injury-riddled Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. Washington, on the other hand, found themselves back in the loser’s books on Friday following just their second win of the season three nights prior against the Atlanta Hawks. The Bucks and Wizards have played once this season, with the Bucks winning 133-120.
Saturday’s win against the Brooklyn Nets was a palate cleanser for everyone associated with the Bucks. Despite being on the second leg of a back-to-back, there was a palpable shift in the team’s energy, thanks in large part to Porter’s return to action. It didn’t take him long to reacquaint himself with fans, scoring the Bucks’ first points and flying all over the court to impact the game—attacking the boards, diving for loose balls, and creating transition opportunities. More than this, Porter’s return restored roster balance. The starters had three legitimate ball-handlers, Ryan Rollins wasn’t overworked, and Doc Rivers was able to employ much more cohesive line-ups. Notably, Cole Anthony—whose rough patch has been extensive—was limited to just five minutes (and only 7.7 per game over the last three after playing 19.3 over his first 17).
The Wizards were never going to be a threat this season, but their offseason moves made it seem like they were at least heading in the right direction. With a record of just 2-16, it might be time to check the compass, especially as their only recent win—a 132-113 clubbing of the Atlanta Hawks—came in large part thanks to an outlier night from three: 19 makes at 50%, with 34-year-old CJ McCollum hitting 10/13 of those on his way to 46 points (just four off his career high). However, this hasn’t been the only bright spot for the Wizards so far. Sophomore Alex Sarr has been much improved, increasing his points per game by 6.1 (to 19.1) while increasing his field-goal percentage from 39.4% to 51.5%. He’s also averaging 1.1 three-point makes per game on a respectable 34.6% and 2.0 blocks per game, good for second in the league. Fellow sophomore Kyshawn George has also shown growth, putting up 15.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 4.8 APG, while hitting 43.7% of his threes on more than five attempts per game. At 6’8” and with a bevy of moves, George bodes a tough match on the wing for the Bucks.
For the Bucks, Taurean Prince (neck; surgery) remains out. Giannis (left adductor; strain injury management) is listed as probable.
For the Wizards, Sharife Cooper (right calf; strain), Tre Johnson (left hip flexor; strain), and Corey Kispert (right thumb; distal phalanx fracture) are all out. Will Riley (sacral; contusion) and Alex Sarr (right adductor; soreness) are questionable.
In his return on Saturday, Porter posted 13 points, four rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block, all in just 24 minutes of action. In the season opener against the Wizards, he had 10 points, two assists, and a steal in just nine minutes. These lines aren’t out of the blue. Extrapolated out to per 36 minutes, in his short career as a Buck, Porter has averaged 21.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 6.9 APG, and 2.3 SPG on .492/.430/876 shooting splits—exactly the sort of production the Bucks need in the absence of a clear-cut number two behind Giannis. Porter just has so much—athleticism, shot-creation, length, moxie—that these Bucks otherwise lack. There’s a reason he was the starter at point on opening night after all. The silver lining of his absence, of course, was the opportunity it afforded Ryan Rollins. Now, with both of them starting in the backcourt, the Bucks’ season (future?) has perhaps more optimism than it had back in September and October. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him held to a minutes restriction against the Wizards, but hopefully we won’t even know—the damage will have already been done; the game already won. Keep your eyes peeled.
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