Kings and Bucks Face Off in Interconference Battle
The Sacramento Kings take on the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Saturday night.
The Kings (18-29) have found wins mostly elusive of late, and they'll enter Saturday's contest having dropped back-to-back games and seven of their last nine contests overall. Their most recent stumble came Wednesday night, when they were edged by the Detroit Pistons, 133-131. Terence Davis paced the Kings with 35 points, supplementing them with six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. De'Aaron Fox supplied 27 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Harrison Barnes provided 20 points and two rebounds. Marvin Bagley totaled 17 points, nine boards and one block. Davion Mitchell registered 13 points, four assists, one rebound and one block.
The Kings are likely to list Tyrese Haliburton (conditioning) as questionable for Saturday's game.
The Bucks (29-19) have had an up-and-down season as they strive to defend their title, but they'll check into Saturday's game having posted back-to-back wins after a rough stretch in which they dropped six of eight contests. Their most recent success came Friday night, when they edged the Chicago Bulls by a 94-90 score. Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with 30 points, supplementing them with 12 boards, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Middleton turned in 16 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. Jrue Holiday registered 13 points, four boards and two assists. Bobby Portis generated a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double that included one assist.
The Bucks will continue without Brook Lopez (back) for Saturday's contest.
Saturday's game marks the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The Bucks swept the two-game 2020-21 season series from the Kings.
The Kings (18-29) have found wins mostly elusive of late, and they'll enter Saturday's contest having dropped back-to-back games and seven of their last nine contests overall. Their most recent stumble came Wednesday night, when they were edged by the Detroit Pistons, 133-131. Terence Davis paced the Kings with 35 points, supplementing them with six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. De'Aaron Fox supplied 27 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Harrison Barnes provided 20 points and two rebounds. Marvin Bagley totaled 17 points, nine boards and one block. Davion Mitchell registered 13 points, four assists, one rebound and one block.
The Kings are likely to list Tyrese Haliburton (conditioning) as questionable for Saturday's game.
The Bucks (29-19) have had an up-and-down season as they strive to defend their title, but they'll check into Saturday's game having posted back-to-back wins after a rough stretch in which they dropped six of eight contests. Their most recent success came Friday night, when they edged the Chicago Bulls by a 94-90 score. Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with 30 points, supplementing them with 12 boards, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Middleton turned in 16 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. Jrue Holiday registered 13 points, four boards and two assists. Bobby Portis generated a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double that included one assist.
The Bucks will continue without Brook Lopez (back) for Saturday's contest.
Saturday's game marks the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The Bucks swept the two-game 2020-21 season series from the Kings.
Cavs Return Home with Date vs. Thunder
The Cleveland Cavaliers play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday.
The Cavaliers (27-19) return home after losing 117-104 at Chicago on Wednesday to snap a five-game winning steak. They will look to bounce back against the Thunder, whom they beat just a week ago in the midst of a nine-day road trip that saw them win six of seven. Cleveland had to rally in that one, however, overcoming an 18-point deficit for a 107-102 victory at OKC. Darius Garland posted 27 points and a career-high 18 assists, and Lauri Markkanen drained a three-pointer with a 11.4 seconds remaining for the final margin.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points and seven assists. He's topped 20 points in five of his last six games, including three 30-point performances, but it hasn't meant much for the Thunder, who have one win in January, losers of nine of 10.
Oklahoma City (14-31) is playing the second of a back-to-back, hoping to salvage the final game of a four-game road trip after losing the first three. The last two were especially lop-sided as the Thunder lost by 22 points Wednesday at San Antonio and 23 points Friday at Charlotte, failing to top 100 points in either game.
The Cavaliers (27-19) return home after losing 117-104 at Chicago on Wednesday to snap a five-game winning steak. They will look to bounce back against the Thunder, whom they beat just a week ago in the midst of a nine-day road trip that saw them win six of seven. Cleveland had to rally in that one, however, overcoming an 18-point deficit for a 107-102 victory at OKC. Darius Garland posted 27 points and a career-high 18 assists, and Lauri Markkanen drained a three-pointer with a 11.4 seconds remaining for the final margin.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points and seven assists. He's topped 20 points in five of his last six games, including three 30-point performances, but it hasn't meant much for the Thunder, who have one win in January, losers of nine of 10.
Oklahoma City (14-31) is playing the second of a back-to-back, hoping to salvage the final game of a four-game road trip after losing the first three. The last two were especially lop-sided as the Thunder lost by 22 points Wednesday at San Antonio and 23 points Friday at Charlotte, failing to top 100 points in either game.
Suns Look To Build On FIve-Game Streak
By Dan Bruno
The Phoenix Suns play host to the Indiana Pacers at Footprint Center on Saturday evening.
This marks the first game back home after a perfect, 5-0, road trip for the Suns (35-9), as they will look to keep the momentum going in order to add to their, 17-5, home record. Deandre Ayton (ankle) missed the last two games and remains questionable for action on Saturday. If Ayton remains sidelined, the Suns will continue to rely on JaVale McGee to fill in key minutes. On the bright side, Chris Paul continues his strong play, averaging 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 10.6 assists and 1.8 steals, over the last 10 games. Devin Booker is averaging 27.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists, over the last 10 games. The Suns are averaging 112.5 points per game, which is third most in the league, and they are shooting an average of 47.5 percent from the field, which is second best in the league.
Meanwhile, this marks the fourth game of a five-game road trip for the Pacers (17-29), where they have gone, 2-1, so far, with a loss in L.A., against the Clippers, followed by consecutive wins in L.A., against the Lakers, and in Golden State. The Pacers will look to stay hot for a chance to add to their, 5-17. road record. Myles Turner (foot) has missed the last three games and will remain out through Saturday's action, which means another opportunity for Goga Bitadze to step up for extra playing time. Domantas Sabonis (ankle) missed the last game and will also remain out, while Malcolm Brogdon (achilles) and Caris LeVert (calf) are listed as questionable. If LeVert or Brogdon are sidelined, Chris Duarte will pick up some extra action. Duarte has been playing well lately, averaging 17.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals, over the last four games.
This marks the first game back home after a perfect, 5-0, road trip for the Suns (35-9), as they will look to keep the momentum going in order to add to their, 17-5, home record. Deandre Ayton (ankle) missed the last two games and remains questionable for action on Saturday. If Ayton remains sidelined, the Suns will continue to rely on JaVale McGee to fill in key minutes. On the bright side, Chris Paul continues his strong play, averaging 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 10.6 assists and 1.8 steals, over the last 10 games. Devin Booker is averaging 27.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists, over the last 10 games. The Suns are averaging 112.5 points per game, which is third most in the league, and they are shooting an average of 47.5 percent from the field, which is second best in the league.
Meanwhile, this marks the fourth game of a five-game road trip for the Pacers (17-29), where they have gone, 2-1, so far, with a loss in L.A., against the Clippers, followed by consecutive wins in L.A., against the Lakers, and in Golden State. The Pacers will look to stay hot for a chance to add to their, 5-17. road record. Myles Turner (foot) has missed the last three games and will remain out through Saturday's action, which means another opportunity for Goga Bitadze to step up for extra playing time. Domantas Sabonis (ankle) missed the last game and will also remain out, while Malcolm Brogdon (achilles) and Caris LeVert (calf) are listed as questionable. If LeVert or Brogdon are sidelined, Chris Duarte will pick up some extra action. Duarte has been playing well lately, averaging 17.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals, over the last four games.