Former U.S. Senator Malik of the Milwaukee Bucks will be celebrated at a memorial service.
Herb Cole had a profound impact on Milwaukee and Wisconsin in politics, business, and philanthropy. His life will be celebrated Friday at Fiserv Forum.
The Milwaukee Bucks look to win their third straight game when they host the Sacramento Kings at Fiserv Forum at 6 p.m.
Milwaukee is currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference at 27-12 overall while the Kings are the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference at 23-15. The Bucks are playing on the second night of a consecutive confrontation while the Kings were on vacation on Saturday after their loss in Philadelphia on Friday.
Milwaukee led Sacramento 95-91 in the fourth quarter behind Malik Beasley's 21 points (7-for-9, including 5-for-6 from behind the 3-point line). Five different Bucks scored in double figures while five of them reached at least 10 points for the Kings.
The Bucks took their first lead of the game in the second quarter, including a 68-66 lead at the break. Milwaukee shot 62% from the floor and 57% from behind the three-point line, but Sacramento made 19 more shots. Giannis Antetokounmpo (14), Beasley (13), Bobby Portis (11) and Damian Lillard (10) all reached double figures for the Bucks. De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 14 points, and Domantas Sabonis added 13 points and 10 assists.
The Kings shot 51% overall and 58% from behind the three-point line to lead the Bucks 37-32 after the first quarter. Milwaukee shot 66% overall and 62% from behind the three-point line, but the Bucks turned it around five times. The Kings scored six points on those extra possessions. The teams had ball jumpers as well, as the Kings (12) and Bucks (10) combined for 22 assists on 26 total field goals.
What is the Bucks' record in back-to-back games?
Milwaukee takes a 4-1 lead in the second of a back-to-back.
Khris Middleton excluded in favor of Pax
The forward will be suspended against the Kings to treat a right knee injury. This will be the fifth game Middleton has missed this season, four of which have come during consecutive games. He played his first back-to-back game on January 4 in San Antonio, playing 15 minutes in the first half against the Spurs in a nationally televised game.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes for every buck. The MVP candidate was a late addition to the injury report due to a right shoulder contusion, but he went through the normal pregame warmup and was cleared to play. He has played in 28 straight games, his longest streak since appearing in 31 straight games in the 2020-21 season. He hasn't missed a game during any of the Bucks' back-to-backs this season.
What's the Bucks' record without Giannis?
1-0: The Bucks beat the Raptors on November 15.
Pax injury report
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, questionable (bruised right shoulder)
- Khris Middleton out (management of right knee injury)
- Chris Livingstone, out (non-coronavirus illness)
- Jae Crowder, out (left adductor muscle surgery)
Bucks starters
- guards: Damian Lillard, owner of Beasley
- Attackers: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Andre Jackson Jr
- center: Brook Lopez
Bucks vs. Kings odds, over/under and moneyline
Milwaukee fell to a 3.5-point favorite over Sacramento, and the over/under is 246.5 points. The money line is -165 for the Bucks and +135 for the Kings, Per BetMGM.
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