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New Faces in New Places as Warriors Visit Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors will showcase their revamped rosters when they clash on Monday night. Both teams made significant moves at the trade deadline, setting the stage for an intriguing battle in Milwaukee.
Can the Bucks Keep Rolling Without Giannis?
Milwaukee (35-19) is coming off a 135-127 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, despite missing Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf). Damian Lillard stepped up in a big way, delivering a season-high 43 points and eight assists to lead the Bucks to victory.
Who do the experts think will come out on top? Get expert NBA picks now!
“I told Dame that he needs to be an aggressive scorer and aggressive playmaker, and that’s a hard thing to do,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “His downhill attacks to create other buckets were great, and that led him to his shooting.”
Antetokounmpo will remain out through the All-Star break as a precaution, according to Rivers. The Bucks are also adjusting to life without Khris Middleton, who was dealt to Washington in a trade that brought in Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma has scored 12 and 13 points, respectively, in his first two games with Milwaukee.
How Will Jimmy Butler Continue to Impact Golden State?
Golden State (27-25) last played on Saturday, cruising to a 132-111 win over the Chicago Bulls. Jimmy Butler, acquired from the Miami Heat in a blockbuster deadline deal, made his Warriors debut in Chicago—where his NBA career began—and scored 25 points.
“Pretty fun having Jimmy on our team. He’s an amazing player,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “I’m most impressed with his passing. It changes everything, connects the game. He does it from anywhere. He’s a lion out there.”
The Warriors gave up Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a protected first-round pick to land Butler, hoping his presence will elevate them in the playoff race.
Stephen Curry continues to lead Golden State with 23.0 points and 6.1 assists per game, while Kevon Looney anchors the paint with 6.9 rebounds per contest.
Strengths and Matchup History
The Warriors thrive on their deep bench (second in the NBA with 45.8 bench points per game) and their reliance on the three-ball, ranking second in the league in percentage of points from three-pointers (41.5%). However, the Bucks boast elite efficiency, ranking second in three-point percentage (38.7%) and fourth in effective field goal percentage (56.3%).
This is the first meeting between the teams this season. The past four seasons have seen the series split, with each team winning at home. Notably, Curry has not played in Milwaukee since the 2022-23 season.
Can the Warriors’ New Addition
Shine Again, or Will the Bucks Hold Strong at Home?
Find Out with Expert NBA Insights!
Golden State dominated the last matchup on March 6, 2023, winning 125-90 in San Francisco. Curry led with 29 points and eight rebounds, while Antetokounmpo paced Milwaukee with 23 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Who Will Have the Edge in This New-Look Battle?
Both teams are adjusting to their revamped rosters, making this an exciting test for their playoff aspirations. Can the Bucks keep winning without Giannis, or will Butler and the Warriors make a statement on the road?
