Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks on his return from injury
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks on his return from injury after playing the New York Knicks on Nov. 28, 2025
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Milwaukee Bucks snapped a seven-game losing streak on Nov. 29 by beating one of the worst teams in the NBA in the Brooklyn Nets, and now the Bucks try to start a winning streak by beating a team that’s even lower in the standings in the Washington Wizards.
Milwaukee had a chance to take control of the game when it went up 16 points early in the third quarter, but instead the Bucks allowed the Wizards to get back into it and they tied it up at 89 with under a minute to play in the third quarter. The Bucks managed to get a couple of buckets late to take a 94-91 lead into the fourth.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers played his starters the first eight minutes of the third, but they could not put it away.
The Bucks lead the Wizards 66-58 at halftime as Washington has six points off seven offensive rebounds and another eight points off nine Milwaukee turnovers. The Bucks shot over 70% from behind the 3-point line but only put up 17 and have been outshot by the Wizards (52 to 45).
The Bucks took a 34-28 lead after the first quarter after shooting 59% overall and 75% (6-for-8) from behind the 3-point line. Kevin Porter Jr. had five points and three assists in just nine minutes for the Bucks. Khris Middleton scored six points for Washington.
Milwaukee (9-12) has not won consecutive games since Oct. 28-30, and it heads to the Capital One Arena to face a Washington team that is 2-16.
The Bucks beat the Wizards in the season opener on Oct. 22 at Fiserv Forum.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes. The Bucks superstar is probable to play as he manages the aftereffects of a strained left adductor, but he has played the last two games on limited minutes (28 at New York on Nov. 28 and 19 vs. Brooklyn on Nov. 29).
Bucks guard Gary Harris ruled out with Achilles soreness
Gary Harris was a late scratch for the game vs. Washington, as the 31-year-old guard was ruled out with soreness in his right Achilles tendon following his pregame warmup. Harris also participated in the team’s morning shootaround. Harris, a free agent signing from Orlando in the offseason, has played about 18 minutes per game over his last nine appearances since Nov. 14. The shooting guard played in just five of the team’s first 12 games before he was put in the rotation.
- Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)
- Gary Harris, out (right Achilles soreness)
- Gary Trent Jr., available (right thumb sprain)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, available (left adductor strain injury management)
Bucks starters
- Guards: AJ Green, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr.
- Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Center: Myles Turner
Khris Middleton is available for the Wizards
Former Bucks star Khris Middleton has played in 14 of the Wizards’ 18 games on about 25 minutes per appearance, and he’s averaging 9.7 points per game on 47% shooting overall. He’s making just 32.4% of his 3-pointers and 77.3% of his free throws. His best game of the season was the opener in Milwaukee on Oct. 22, when he scored 23 points on 9 of 14 shooting. In Middleton’s first game against his former team on Feb. 21, he scored 12 points and had a chance to tie the game late.
The Wizards are trying to develop some of their young players, but they will be without 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr (right adductor soreness), 2025 first-round pick Tre Johnson (left hip flexor strain) and is also down veteran 3-point marksman Corey Kispert (right thumb fracture).
What time is the Bucks game?
The game is set to tip-of at 6 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Stephen Watson on the call.
Bucks vs. Wizards odds
Milwaukee is an 8.5-point favorite over Washington and the over/under is set at 231.5 points, per BetMGM.
