For the second game of this ESPN Wednesday doubleheader, the 6-18 New Orleans Pelicans travel to Wisconsin to play the 21-3 Milwaukee Bucks at 9:30 p.m. EST.
Yes, the main attraction that is Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t be taking center stage on the second slot of tonight’s primetime showdowns, but the show must go on for the team that is tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the best record in the NBA. They’re 14 games deep into a winning streak – a franchise-best-yet record – but have all the confidence in the world to defeat a young-but-slipping team marred by injury and in-house controversy as they visit the Fiserv Forum.
We’ve yet to see what the Chainsaw-esque Bucks appear as without their league MVP, but don’t expect Mike Budenholzer fo fix what ain’t broken. Sure, Ersan Ilyasova is going to start in the place of the Greek Freek, but that doesn’t mean there are any insufficiencies in this lineup, barring Antetokounmpo’s probable 35+ points he’d more than likely be given going against a team that’s lost their two of their starting forwards to the injury report.
Brook Lopez is in a scoring slump. Tonight against the Pelicans, he’s probably going to get out of it. He and D.J. Wilson’s minutes and overall productivity will see a significant rise and their formula – albeit the team’s coast to coast gameplan – of protecting the rim and drilling threes at a surplus is going to be even more amplified tonight.
The player to watch for tonight for New Orleans just has to be Brandon Ingram, right? I mean, there isn’t much surrounding the former Duke forward and although he’s experiencing career-highs in just about every offensive statistic worth measuring this year (25 ppg., 7 asts. off 49.4 percent shooting) he isn’t supplied with much help besides Jrue Holiday.
The Pels have to be licking their chops in having the opportunity to snap their losing streak against a Giannis-less Bucks team, and they’ll especially want to get back on the winning track after a heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Pistons via a Derrick Rose game-winner.
Top overall pick Zion Williamson hasn’t played yet this year as team officials are further suspending the Duke phenom’s return to the hardwood. Problem is, that hasn’t been the only disappointment in the bayou this season.
At least there’s them LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints, I guess?
A big part of their struggles have been on offense in the clutch (T-22nd with Indiana, Memphis, Phoenix, and San Antonio) and at 6-18 it’s looking like starting 2 guard JJ Redick and Zion are going to have that awkward conversation about missing the playoffs for the first time in the Duke all-time leader in 3PM’s career.
Game two of the doubleheader takes place on ESPN at 9:30 p.m. ET.
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