Washington Wizards vs Milwaukee Bucks
PREVIEW: The Milwaukee Bucks arrive in Washington on Monday seeking to snap a four-game road losing streak against a Wizards team struggling mightily at 2-16. Milwaukee enters as strong 9.5-point favorites, powered by their elite three-point shooting ranked first in the league and efficient attacking at the rim. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues his MVP-caliber season averaging 30.9 points, 10.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. However, the Bucks also rank 29th in free throw rate and shoot just 71 percent from the line, potential trouble spots in close contests.
Washington's defensive vulnerabilities have been exposed all season, as they allow the most points in the league and rank dead last in several critical categories. The Wizards play at a quick tempo and force few turnovers, yet they rank 29th in defensive rebounding and allow opponents to attack the rim frequently. Alex Sarr has emerged as a bright spot with 19.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per night, while CJ McCollum chips in 17.8 points. Despite shooting an inefficient 74.4 percent from free throws, Washington has gone over the total in 12 of 18 games this season, suggesting offensive firepower could keep this contest competitive on the scoreboard.