NBA | Milwaukee Bucks vs Chicago Bulls | 17 February, 8:30 AM (PST)

[Mary C]

 

When the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night, two teams on opposite hot streaks on the eve of the All-Star break finish their unofficial first halves of the season. The contest pits the Bulls, who need a turnaround for the remainder of the season, against the Bucks, who are hoping an eight-day break won't slow their pursuit of the Boston Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference. The Bucks enter the contest with an 11-game winning streak, a season high, that includes victories over the top East (Boston) and West teams (the Denver Nuggets). Tuesday night's 131-125 victory over the Celtics came after overtime. 

With two of Milwaukee's 17 losses coming at the hands of the Bulls, the Bucks' lead over the Celtics has shrunk to just one game as a result of the victory. DeMar DeRozan, an All-Star, scored 36 points in Chicago's 118-113 victory at Milwaukee on November 23 before outscoring the Bucks by himself in overtime of a 119-113 victory at home on December 28. DeRozan scored 42 points in total for the game. Both victories failed to spark a Bulls comeback; after winning in November and December, respectively, they lost four of their next five games. Since last facing Milwaukee, Chicago has three times put together three-game winning streaks, but those runs were followed by three, two, and five straight losses. 

They bring that most recent five-game losing streak into the Thursday game. Prior to losing at home to the Orlando Magic on Monday by a score of 100-91 and the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday in Indianapolis by a score of 117-113, Chicago had lost three straight on the road. DeRozan missed the first game of the back-to-back against the Pacers because of a strained right quadriceps. Zach LaVine scored 35 points in that contest. DeRozan was still hopeful of being fit enough to play in the All-Star Game on Sunday even though he had not yet been declared ineligible for the Milwaukee game. It was particularly disappointing to lose on Wednesday because the first quarter saw the Bulls play some of their best basketball of the year, building a 39-15 lead. 

Billy Donovan, head coach of the Bulls, said of his team's inability to maintain leads, "This has been something that we have to be able to overcome." The Bucks' two All-Stars, Jrue Holiday (40 points) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (36) stole the show in the Tuesday victory over the Celtics, combining for 13 of the team's 15 overtime points. "It's skill. It's poise. It's composure. It's experience. It's decision-making. It's all those things. It's not one thing." Just three substitutes scored for Milwaukee, which is still waiting for Jae Crowder to make his season debut after being acquired from the Nets at the trade deadline after the Phoenix Suns had sent him to Brooklyn in exchange for Kevin Durant. 

Bulls coach Billy Donovan said of the inability to maintain leads, "This has been something that we have to be able to overcome." The Bucks' two All-Stars, Jrue Holiday (40 points) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (36) stole the show in the Tuesday victory over the Celtics, contributing to 13 of the team's 15 overtime points. "It's skill. It's poise. It's composure. It's experience. It's decision-making. It's all those things. It's not one thing." Only three substitutes contributed to Milwaukee's scoring as it waits for Jae Crowder to make his season debut after being acquired from the Nets at the trade deadline after being sent to Brooklyn by the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Kevin Durant.