Christmas is over and the Brooklyn Nets are back in action. Tonight, they face a resurgent Milwaukee Bucks squad.
Close but not enough. The Brooklyn Nets put up a good fight, but the Miami Heat were too hot to handle on Monday night. The Nets are now 11-18 and out of the play-in picture for now.
The opponent tonight is on an upswing. After a truly horrendous start, the Milwaukee Bucks are climbing up the standings and hope to make a big push come playoff time. They helped the cause by beating the Chicago Bulls by 21 points on Monday.
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Tip after 8:00 p.m. ET.
Injuries
No Cam Thomas, Ziaire Williams, Bojan Bogdanovic, or Shake Milton. Dorian Finney-Smith (left calf contusion) and Ben Simmons (first night of a back to back lower back injury management) are questionable.
AJ Johnson and Chris Livingston are both out with non-COVID illnesses. Giannis Antetokounmpo (back spasms) and Damian Lillard (non-COVID illness) are both questionable.
The game
Brooklyn won the first game while Milwaukee took the second. These teams wrap up the season series next week.
Having Khris Middleton back is a godsend for the Bucks. He can score at all three levels, is someone they can turn to in crunch time, and gives Doc Rivers another player who can get their own shot. That takes on even more importance in the playoffs when possessions become scarcer and more valuable. His health is of the utmost importance so Doc and friends will have to manage his minutes throughout the year so he’s healthy for the postseason.
Cam Johnson is the lead option for the Nets these days, and he’s making the most of it. He had a career high six turnovers against the Utah Jazz, but shaved it down to a much more reasonable two against the Miami Heat on Monday. CJ has hit at least two three pointers in nine straight games and for a Bucks team that is excellent from deep (third in three point percentage), Jordi Fernandez is going to need a huge night from his budding star.
Player to watch: Giannis Antetokounmpo
We’re a day removed from Christmas, and despite the NFL’s best efforts, Christmas is still a huge day on the NBA calendar. Teams that get selected for the day are expected to put their best foot forward and give fans who may not be dialed in to the NBA all season long a first hand look at the action they’ve been missing out. On that front, the NBA went 5/5 on Christmas. So when you’re a contender that’s not selected for that day, it stings. Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about that with Eric Nehm of The Athletic and said:
“There’s gotta be an algorithm because if it’s — how can I say — like a popularity contest, I can give you facts,” Antetokounmpo said. “You want me to? Two of the NBA All-Star starters, Dame (Lillard) and Giannis, and the All-Star MVP, right? And the No. 1 vote-getter — not in the East, in the whole NBA — is not in the Christmas game? What? No, it’s a fact.
“The votes came out last year. I was the No. 1. Dame was a starter. I was a starter. Dame won the MVP. Dame won the 3-point contest. Maybe that has nothing to do with it. I believe we were one of the best teams in the East last year. Maybe not this year, OK. We don’t get a Christmas game. Why? Because we got a small market? Maybe that’s the case. Or I want to believe what I tell you, I think there’s an algorithm within the NBA that they choose which team will get the most attention, the most viewership that day.”
He’s right. NBA Christmas Day games are an immense honor and as one of the best players in the league, you should want that opportunity to be on that national stage. He cares a lot about this, and it’s something we should want from all the big stars. Everyone brought their A games yesterday and you know Giannis would have as well.
If he does play tonight, he’ll be hell to deal with. He’s scored 30 points in nine out of his last ten games played. He’s pretty much removed the three pointer from his arsenal and has traded them in for more shots at the rim. He’s automatic down there and his ability to live at the free throw line and get opponents in foul trouble is a nice hack when you need two points in a hurry. He does everything at a high level and few superstars in his stratosphere can match the motor he plays with every night.
Nic Claxton has gotten the Giannis matchup in the past, and we’ll see how often he gets it tonight. Frankly, it’s been a pretty disappointing season for the Nets big as he’s dealt with injuries and made things harder on himself by getting himself ejected a few times. The Nets expect a lot from their big guy, and he’s shown himself to be a terrific player in the past and in pockets this season. Consistency is the name of the game and if he’s able to get back to where we know his game can go, the Nets will continue to be competitive this season.
From the Vault
It’s been 14 years since Teena Marie passed on. Let’s think of the great music she left us with one of my all time favorites
More reading: Brew Hoop and SB Nation NBA
- Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
- Milwaukee Bucks Game Notes – Milwaukee Bucks
- Feeling a holiday snub, Bucks to face Nets next – Larry Fleisher – NBA
- Milwaukee plays Brooklyn, aims for 4th straight home win – AP
- Cam Thomas’ injury return looming, and not a moment too soon for Nets – Brian Lewis – New York Post