Bucks lead Hornets 70-51 at halftime
CHARLOTTE – The Milwaukee Bucks look to win four games in a row for the first time since winning seven straight from Dec. 11-23 when they visit the Charlotte Hornets Thursday night at the Spectrum Center.
The Bucks (38-21) throttled the 15-win Hornets, 123-85, on Tuesday night at Fiserv Forum.
Milwaukee kept a comfortable lead throughout the third quarter even though it couldn't quite put Charlotte away, taking a 92-74 lead into the fourth quarter. The Bucks have scored 13 points off 10 Hornets turnovers and have made 13 three-pointers compared to just eight for Charlotte.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 points to lead the Bucks to a 70-51 halftime lead over the Hornets. Milwaukee shot 54% overall and 50% from behind the three-point line, including a 3-for-5 start for Malik Beasley. Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 17 points.
Milwaukee took a 35-25 lead after the first quarter, bolstered by an 8-0 start to the game. Charlotte missed its first 8 three-pointers and was 2-for-11 for the quarter. Seven different Bucks players scored as the team shot 54% overall and 55% from behind the three-point line.
Milwaukee has also climbed within a game of Cleveland (38-20) in the loss column for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Boston (46-12) remains solidly in the top spot.
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Is Giannis playing tonight?
Yes. He is starting. The MVP candidate participated in shootaround on Thursday morning and was listed as probable to play with right patellar tendinitis. He’s been managing that issue since Feb. 4.
Bucks injury report vs. Hornets
Khris Middleton, out (left ankle sprain)
Andre Jackson Jr., questionable (non-COVID illness)Rivers said Jackson Jr. would be available if needed vs. the Hornets.
MarJon Beauchamp, probable (non-COVID illness)Rivers said Beauchamp would be available if needed vs. the Hornets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, probable (right patellar tendinitis)
Bucks starting lineup
Guards: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley
Forwards: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jae Crowder
Center: Brook Lopez
When will Khris Middleton play?
The three-time all-star sprained his left ankle in the first quarter of Milwaukee’s loss to Phoenix on Feb. 6 and has missed the last nine games. He did not travel with the team to Charlotte for Thursday’s game and Bucks head coach Doc Rivers wasn't sure if Middleton would join the team in Chicago on Friday, but if he did he likely wouldn't play.
It was a bit of turn from Tuesday when Rivers said, "If he goes, we think he may play. I think it's that close. We got to be very careful with it."
The 32-year-old played in 43 of the Bucks' first 51 games, as he sat out one game of a back-to-back set seven times. He missed the Nov. 26 game against Portland with Achilles tendon soreness.
Middleton, who re-signed with the Bucks in the offseason, must play in 19 of the remaining 22 regular season games to receive a $1.5 million bonus.
More: The Bucks' Khris Middleton opens up on getting through his toughest year and bouncing back
Bucks vs. Hornets odds: spread, over/under
Milwaukee is an 11.5-point favorite over Charlotte, and the over/under is 216.5 points per BetMGM.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks lead Hornets 70-51 at halftime
