UPDATE: Alex Sarr (Illness) and Cole Anthony (Illness) are available to play Thursday night.
Eastern Conference bottom-feeders collide on Thursday night, as the Washington Wizards host the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena.
The Bucks (18–27, 12th East) have lost six of their last seven games and are seemingly preparing to part ways with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo — currently sidelined with a calf strain — at next Thursday’s trade deadline. The Wizards (11–34, 15th East) snapped a nine-game skid with Tuesday’s win over the Trail Blazers, but remain with the NBA’s fewest wins this season.
The teams have already met three times this season, with Washington holding a 2–1 advantage.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Milwaukee Bucks
- Out: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Calf), Gary Harris (Hamstring), Kevin Porter Jr. (Oblique), Taurean Prince (Neck)
- Questionable: Cole Anthony (Illness)
Washington Wizards
- Out: Marvin Bagley III (Thoracic), Tristan Vukcevic (Hamstring), Cam Whitmore (Shoulder), Trae Young (Knee)
- Questionable: Alex Sarr (Illness)
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Milwaukee enters as a narrow 1.5-point road favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Washington sits as a +110 underdog. The game’s total is set at 221.5 points.
Bucks vs. Wizards Preview
Milwaukee Bucks Preview
The Bucks could look drastically different after next week’s trade deadline. According to a Wednesday report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, franchise superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is “ready for a new home,” and Milwaukee has begun fielding “aggressive” offers for the two-time MVP.
The team’s future without the perennial All-Star is unforgivingly bleak. Milwaukee has posted a brutal 3–12 record in the Greek Freak’s absence this season, and he’s currently sidelined with another calf strain. Exacerbating the issue, Kevin Porter Jr. — the team’s second-leading scorer behind Giannis — is out indefinitely with an oblique injury.
Ryan Rollins, who averages 16.3 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game, should carry much of the offensive burden with Antetokounmpo and Porter out. But Milwaukee ranks in the NBA’s bottom ten on both ends of the floor this season, and it could get even worse Thursday night without its top two players.
Washington Wizards Preview
Even after pulling off the blockbuster of the season so far, the Wizards have remained the worst team in the league. They drained their offense to acquire star point guard Trae Young, but he’s sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury.
Washington has won just a single game since the trade and is still stuck with the league’s lowest victory total this season, while also sitting dead last in net rating.
While they shipped leading scorer CJ McCollum to Atlanta, the Wizards have since received strong contributions from their burgeoning young core. Alex Sarr (Questionable), Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson have all averaged over 15 points per game since the Young trade.
Bucks vs. Wizards Pick, Best Bet
The Wizards have already beaten the Bucks twice this season, even with Antetokounmpo in the lineup. And while Washington is statistically the worst team in the league, Milwaukee will be increasingly vulnerable Thursday night without its franchise superstar.
Sarr’s status could lower Washington’s ceiling — but even so, all signs point to another upset victory in D.C.
