The Milwaukee Bucks host the Washington Wizards as former MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo and former All-Star, Jrue Holiday, both return to the lineup for the first-time in 2023.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday expected back for Milwaukee and Bradley Beal potentially returning to the court for Washington, tonight’s contest could be as star studded as one could hope for.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s eastern conference showdown.
Game Information
- Matchup: Milwaukee Bucks (23-13, 3rd in East) vs. Washington Wizards (17-21, 10th in East)
- When: Tuesday, January 3, 2022
- Time: 8:00 p.m. EDT/5:30 p.m. CDT
- Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- How To Watch: NBA TV, Bally Sports Wisconsin
Injury Report
Milwaukee Bucks
Probable: G – Jrue Holiday (calf), F – Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee)
Questionable: N/A
Out: G – George Hill (non-COVID illness), F – Khris Middleton (knee)
Washington Wizards
Probable: N/A
Questionable: G – Bradley Beal (hamstring), F – Taj Gibson (groin)
Out: N/A
Projected Starting Lineups
Milwaukee Bucks
- Guard – Jrue Holiday
- Guard – Grayson Allen
- Forward – Pat Connaughton
- Forward – Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Center – Brook Lopez
Washington Wizards
- Guard – Monte Morris
- Guard – Bradley Beal
- Forward – Kyle Kuzma
- Forward – Kristaps Porzingis
- Center – Daniel Gafford
Game Breakdown
On Monday morning, it was announced that Mike Budenholzer’s Milwaukee Bucks should be getting some reinforcements in as former MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo (32.1ppg, 11.8rpg, 5.2apg) and former All-Star, Jrue Holiday (18.9ppg, 5.3rpg, 7.3apg) are set to return to the lineup for the first-time in 2023. While Giannis and Holiday’s returns are a big boost for the Bucks, the club’s depth will continued to be tested as former All-Star forward, Khris Middleton (knee) and backup guard, George Hill (non-COVID illness) are both expected to miss some additional time. A lackluster New Year’s Day performance against these very same Washington Wizards saw the Bucks fall short in this past weekend’s contest, 118-95, in one of these newer home-and-home (but the same team plays at home both times) series that the NBA has adopted this season. The Bucks weren’t the only short-handed team in their last meeting as the Wizards also boasted an injury-riddled lineup as star Guard, Bradley Beal was held out of the aforementioned New Year’s Day contest with left hamstring soreness. While Giannis and Holiday are both expected to start, this evening, Beal is listed as a true game-time decision for tonight’s showdown.
With the Boston Celtics still sitting atop the East, and the Brooklyn Nets being the hottest team in the league, currently riding a 12-game winning streak, the Bucks can’t afford to drop games against the bottom-half of the conference if they’re hoping to stay afloat for the conference’s top seed for this April’s postseason.
Game Prediction
Despite a 20+ point drubbing against Washington to kick-off the new year, the Bucks should be able to regain form and get back-on-track with Giannis returning to the lineup. Not quite at 100% with Khris Middleton (knee) and George Hill (non-COVID illness) still out, the Bucks should have enough firepower to overcome the likes of (potentially) Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis en route to a close, yet comfortable victory, tonight in Milwaukee. Regardless of the possible return (or continued absence) of Bradley Beal, the Bucks should be able to take care of business, tonight.
However, Beal’s availability could prove to be massive one way or the other when it comes to the outcome of tonight’s contest.
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