The Milwaukee Bucks will take on the Washington Wizards at home on Tuesday, and there are a couple aspects of their game that need to be cleaned up to secure a win.
After losing to the Nuggets by their second largest margin (36 points) of the year, the Bucks have a chance for redemption. The Wizards have lost five games in a row, and if the Bucks can execute in these three aspects, they’ll be able to extend that streak to six.
1. Get Jrue Holiday hot early
In three of his last four games, point guard Jrue Holiday has shot at least 50% from the field. Holiday has also been sinking shots from distance, as he’s shooting 41% from beyond the arc in that same span. The two time-all defensive team selection is having his third-best year shooting from the field at 49%. If Holiday can get going early on, he’ll give opposing point guard Spencer Dinwiddie a tough night.
2. Pack the Paint on Defense
Power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and center Bobby Portis are usually pivotal pieces for the Bucks. However, their importance is heightened in this matchup. The Wizards are the third three-point shooting team in the league (32.4%), and the Bucks need to expose this.
By fastening down on defense inside of the perimeter and daring the Wizards to shoot from deep, the Bucks can pull away rather quickly. This isn’t to say threes should be left uncontested, but Bucks players should apply pressure on high percentage shots. Along with shooting from deep, the Wizards have struggled in another crucial aspect of the game.
3. Keep the Wizards Quiet Down the Stretch
The Wizards have struggled to hit shots in the fourth quarter as of late. In their last three games, they’ve averaged 21 points with a margin of -10 points.
Washington will be missing leading scorer Bradley Beal (23.2 ppg) in this one. If they can’t find a definitive scorer, their fourth quarter hardships may continue. The Wizards may look to power forward Kyle Kuzma (16.0 ppg), who will likely match up with Antetokounmpo, for scoring late. If the Bucks can check off these three boxes, they can get back into the win column.
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