Milwaukee Bucks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Preview: Non-conference border battle

Milwaukee Bucks v Minnesota Timberwolves — Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Bucks have a chance to sure up their playoff spot

The Milwaukee Bucks do battle tonight with the Minnesota Timberwolves to round out the season series, which Milwaukee leads 1-0. A win tonight and a win against the Pelicans on Thursday, paired with a Pistons loss to the Knicks on Thursday, would mean the Bucks secure the five-seed before they even play Detroit in the final two games of the regular season. Needless to say, this one’s important.

Where We’re At

The Bucks are coming off a perfect 3-0 road trip (well, far from “perfect,” but they got wins) over the 76ers, Heat, and Pelicans. Newly minted Eastern Conference Player of the Week Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out the final tilt with left shoulder tendinopathy, but Doc Rivers didn’t sound very concerned about it pre-game. He is on track to play tonight, so it might have been more rest than anything.

Minnesota is also hitting its stride at the perfect time, winners of seven of their last eight and five in a row (including Ws over the Pistons and Nuggets). Having said that, the Wolves are somewhat Bucks-like in that they can lose focus against inferior opponents, evidenced by Anthony Edwards needing to make some patently insane shots to push them over the edge against an ultra-depleted Sixers team. The Wolves are in a four-way tie with the Clippers, Warriors, and Grizzlies for spots 5–8 in the West, all just a game behind the Nuggets and two behind the Lakers.

Injury Report

For the Bucks, Bobby Portis (league suspension) is officially off the injury report and will play in this one! Lillard (right calf deep vein thrombosis) and Sims (right thumb UCL sprain) are both out. Pat Connaughton (right ankle sprain) is questionable, while Giannis is probable.

The Wolves’ only player on the injury report is Terrence Shannon Jr. (right groin strain), who is questionable.

Player To Watch

Well, we have a pretty good candidate in Bobby Portis, LOL. What does he look like? How many minutes does he play? Whose minutes does he replace? There’s a lot to watch with BP.

How To Watch

FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CDT.

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