Milwaukee Bucks vs Portland Trail Blazers Picks and Predictions January 4th 2025

Bucks to Work on Chemistry in Visit from Trail Blazers

The Milwaukee Bucks‘ star trio gets another chance to gel as they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.

Bucks’ Trio Looks to Rebound

Milwaukee (17-15) comes off a frustrating 113-110 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. Despite a 20-0 fourth-quarter run that put them back in contention, the Bucks fell short. It was only the second consecutive game where Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton all played together, but their performance left room for improvement.

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Head coach Doc Rivers acknowledged the struggles, focusing on his team’s execution rather than the challenges posed by opponents.

“You got to show up and be ready to play as a group, and I didn’t think we were tonight,” Rivers said. “We didn’t play the right way. They just beat us.”

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 27 points in the loss and continues to lead the league in scoring at 32.4 points per game, along with 11.7 rebounds. Lillard contributes 7.6 assists per game to anchor Milwaukee’s offense.

Blazers Showing Signs of Growth

Portland (11-22) enters the matchup following a 114-106 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. Despite the defeat, head coach Chauncey Billups was encouraged by his young team’s resilience.

The Blazers trimmed a 15-point deficit to within one possession late in the game before falling short.

“I loved everything about how we fought back,” Billups said. “I thought the small lineup was really good for us. I loved how we played in the game overall — in particular in the fourth quarter.”

Anfernee Simons led Portland with 23 points, while Deni Avdija contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds. Shaedon Sharpe also added 19 points, continuing to lead the team with 17.9 points per game.

Injury Updates

Milwaukee was without AJ Green (back) on Thursday, while Portland played without Jerami Grant (face) and Matisse Thybulle (ankle) against the Lakers. Both teams will be monitoring their rosters closely ahead of Saturday’s contest.

Keys to Victory

For Milwaukee, success often hinges on Antetokounmpo dominating in the paint and strong 3-point shooting. The Bucks rank third in the NBA in 3-point accuracy at 38.5 percent, a critical element of their game plan.

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Portland will rely on its young stars, particularly Simons and Sharpe, while Deandre Ayton’s 10.0 rebounds per game provide an interior presence.

Recent History

This matchup carries extra intrigue with Lillard facing his former team. Last season, Milwaukee overcame a 26-point deficit to beat Portland at home. In Lillard’s return to Portland, the Trail Blazers secured a 119-116 victory in a dramatic game filled with tributes and ovations.

Milwaukee had dominated the series before that loss, winning nine of the previous 10 meetings. Both teams will look to make a statement in Saturday’s inter-conference clash.