Having already been ruled out for this one, whether Giannis Antetokounmpo is able to play in the regular-season finale on Sunday becomes the biggest question remaining in this lost season for the Bucks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With his return not coming in Game 81, this final home game means going off without him means the \u201cGreek Freak\u201d may have played his last contest at Fiserv Forum while wearing a Bucks uniform. Milwaukee has dropped eight of 10 but remains ahead of the Bulls in 11th place in the East despite identical records, having won the regular season series 3-1. As a result, it would have fewer ping-pong ball combinations in the draft lottery to score a top-three pick.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Brooklyn Nets arrived in town for the second leg of their final back-to-back, having been routed by Indiana 123-94 in their home finale, suffering their 60th loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Milwaukee expects to have frontcourt starters Myles Turner (ankle) and Kyle Kuzma (Achilles) available, not listing them on Friday\u2019s official NBA injury report. Coming off a lopsided loss to Detroit as Cade Cunningham returned from a lengthy absence due to a collapsed lung, the Bucks will need to win their two remaining games to avoid their first 50-loss season since finishing 15-67 in 2013-14.<\/p>\n
The Bucks have already secured at least tying their worst season since finishing 2015-16 with a 33-49 mark in Antetokounmpo\u2019s rookie season prior to his emergence as the NBA\u2019s Most Improved Player in \u201816-\u201917. Since that run a decade ago, Milwaukee has been in the postseason every year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brooklyn isn\u2019t a playoff team for the third straight season but hasn\u2019t won a postseason game since 2020-21, back when Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kevin Durant were on the roster and Steve Nash was still coaching. Unless the Nets win one of their last two, they\u2019ll match their worst season since moving to Brooklyn, (20-62, 2016-17).<\/p>\n
Brooklyn is just 1-12 on the second of a back-to-back, winning only in Utah on Jan. 30 after a near-upset of Denver. Most of the regulars participating in games back then have been sitting out for weeks. The Nets are on a 3-13 run. Milwaukee has lost 18 of 23 but is looking to finish 3-1 at home, coming off a 131-115 victory over Memphis on Sunday for its lone win in five April outings.<\/p>\n
The Bucks are 18-22 at home and have gone 20\u201330 vs. Eastern Conference opponents. The Nets are 8-31 on the road and 14-35 vs. Eastern Conference competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vitals – How to Watch Bucks vs. Nets<\/p>\n
Game date, time and location: Friday, April 10, 8:10 p.m. EST, Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin<\/p>\n
TV: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin (Bucks), YES Network (Nets)<\/p>\n
Radio: \u00a0WTMJ (Bucks), WFAN (Nets)<\/p>\n
Bucks seek season split vs. lowly 60-loss Nets <\/p>\n
The Milwaukee Bucks (31-49) host the Brooklyn Nets (20-60) in the final of four matchups this season and the second of two encounters this week. The Nets lead the season series after knocking off the Bucks in Brooklyn 96-90 on Tuesday, getting 19 points from rookie guard Ben Saraf. AJ Green led Milwaukee with 20 points. Tarean Prince had 16 points and 11 rebounds.<\/p>\n
The Bucks won at home 116-99 on Nov. 29 while Brooklyn won at home 127-82 on Dec. 14 in one of their worst performances. They\u2019ll need to win as a home favorite Friday to gain a split and avoid losing consecutive season series vs. the Nets. Since the beginning of the 2014-15 season, the Bucks have gotten the better of Brooklyn in 30 of 42 contests<\/p>\n
Milwaukee holds a 115-82 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to 1976-77 when the Nets were known as the New York Nets in their first season in the NBA, playing in Long Island before relocating to New Jersey.<\/p>\n