Jim Owczarski on the evolution of Bucks coach Adrian Griffin
Adrian Griffin’s first few games as a Bucks coach were shaky, but Jim Owczarski discusses how he’s already evolved.
The Milwaukee Bucks (11-5) host the Portland Trail Blazes (4-11) Sunday afternoon at Fiserv Forum with a chance to win for the seventh time in their last eight games. It also marks just the second time the Bucks have played a Western Conference opponent.
A 13-3 run to open the third quarter helped the Trail Blazers to a 88-75 lead after three.
Portland shot 58.8% from behind the three-point line and scored 20 points off 10 Milwaukee turnovers to take a 68-52 halftime lead. The Bucks were just 6-for-21 from behind the three-point line.
The Bucks suffered through another slow start and trail the Trail Blazers 31-26 after one quarter. Milwaukee was just 3-for-10 from behind the three-point line while Portland made 56.5% of its shots.
Khris Middleton out with Achilles tendinitis
The Bucks suffered a blow during their victory over Washington on Friday when Khris Middleton left the game just after halftime with tightness in his left Achilles tendon. While imaging was not needed that day, he was immediately ruled out for Sunday’s contest with tendinitis.
“No timeline (for a return), just day-to-day and see how he responds treatment,” Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said. “I think things are promising.”
When asked if Middleton could be back for Tuesday’s In-Season Tournament game in Miami Griffin added, “We’ll see. Again, just keep evaluating him every day and he’s getting daily treatment and we’ll see how he feels each day.”
Middleton appeared to be moving well and politely declined comment before the game, noting he was heading to treatment.
Middleton looked as if he might be advancing through his season-long minutes restriction on Nov. 22 in Boston when he played 28 against the Celtics. He had been hovering around 20 for the first 12 games he had played.
Is Giannis playing?
Griffin said Antetokounmpo is playing. The former league MVP is still battling an illness, but he played through it in Boston and against Washington.
Bucks injury report
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, probable (non-COVID illness)
- Khris Middleton, out (left Achilles tendinitis)
- Jae Crowder, out (adductor surgery)
Bucks starting lineup
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley
- Forwards: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr.
- Center: Brook Lopez
Damian Lillard to face Trail Blazers for first time
The 33-year-old point guard is facing his old team for the first time since an offseason trade sent him to Milwaukee, but Lillard said this isn’t the reunion that will hit him hardest – that will come with the Bucks travel to Portland on Jan. 31.
“I thought I would be anticipating it more but I’m not really caught up into it,” he said.
Lillard spent 11 years in the Pacific Northwest and is the Trail Blazers’ all-time leading scorer. He also earned a spot on the NBA’s Top-75 team while in Portland, winning rookie of the year and making seven all-star and all-NBA teams.
“Them coming here don’t even feel like; it feels like another game where I’m going to see people I used to spend a lot of time with,” he said. “The team is really different. Obviously the staff is the same that I played for the last few years but it’s not; I don’t think it’ll be like a big deal or nothing like that. Like it will be when I go back to Portland.”
Portland head coach Chauncey Billups said he caught up with Lillard on Saturday night and a little bit during warmups on Sunday.
“It’s obviously weird for me game-planning for; to go against Dame,” Billups said. “So, it’ll be a little different for all of us.”
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