Doc Rivers, Giannis and Brook Lopez speak on the Bucks’ loss to Suns
Doc Rivers, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez break down the Milwaukee Bucks’ 108-106 loss to the Phoenix Suns on March 24, 2025.
The Milwaukee Bucks hope some home cooking can help them scratch out a couple of wins following a five-game road trip that saw them not only go 2-3, but find out that all-star point guard Damian Lillard is out indefinitely with a blood clot in his right calf and see Giannis Antetokounmpo sprain his left foot in Phoenix on Monday.
The Bucks didn’t reach 50 points in a half yet again as they trailed the Knicks 60-49 at the break. The Bucks turned it over 10 times, leading to 16 Knicks points. That also helped New York put up 16 more shots than Milwaukee in the half.
The Knicks took a 25-19 lead after one quarter thanks to 10 second chance points and six off five Bucks turnovers. Former Bucks point guard Delon Wright scored a season-high 10 points in the first quarter alone. Giannis Antetokounmpo was just 1-for-2 for two points.
Milwaukee, 40-32 overall, is 4-7 since March 5 and has sunk to No. 6 in the Eastern Conference playoff picture — which would match them up in the first round with New York. The two teams face off tonight at Fiserv Forum in the regular-season finale between the teams, which the Knicks (45-27) already own having won two early season games in New York by a total of 56 points.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers initially said Giannis Antetokounmpo would be a game time decision, as he began the day questionable to play with a sprained left foot. He finished the game in Phoenix but missed Wednesday’s game in Denver. He had played 18 straight games out of the all-star break, averaging 26.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.
“The way I look at it, if they allow him to play then they obviously don’t think it’s something that’s going to further (injure),” Rivers said before the game. “If they thought it was something that was going to linger on, they would say he’s not playing. That’s what I would say. That’s what you want me to say.”
While the Bucks are obviously not a better team without Antetokounmpo, Rivers did say there is value in seeing player combinations that don’t include him — particularly since Damian Lillard is out indefinitely.
“Obviously I would rather Giannis play tonight, but in the games that he doesn’t or games that he misses, we get a look at how we can play when Giannis is off the floor. So that’s going to be important for us.”
Jalen Brunson out for the Knicks
New York will also be missing a star player, as point guard Jalen Brunson has been sidelined since spraining an ankle on March 6. The all-star is progressing, and he appears on track for a full recovery in time for the playoffs. The Bucks haven’t had much of an answer for Brunson since he arrived in New York, and the point guard had a 15-point, 9-assist effort in the Knicks win on Nov. 8 and a 44-point, 6-assist game on Jan. 12.
What time is the Bucks game?
The game vs. the Knicks will tip off at 7 p.m.
What channel are the Bucks on?
The game will be broadcast locally by FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Steve Novak and Melanie Ricks on the call.
- Bobby Portis Jr., out (league suspension)
- Jericho Sims, out (right thumb surgery)
- Damian Lillard, out (right calf deep vein thrombosis)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, questionable (left foot sprain)
Bucks starting lineup
- Guards: Ryan Rollins, Taurean Prince
- Forwards: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma
- Center: Brook Lopez
Bucks vs. Knicks odds, over/under
New York is a 1.5-point favorite over Milwaukee and the over/under is set at 217.5 points, per BetMGM.
Eastern Conference playoff standings
Heading into Friday night’s games, here is what the Eastern Conference playoff standings look like:
- Cleveland (59-14)
- Boston (54-19)
- New York (45-27)
- Indiana (43-30)
- Detroit (41-32)
- Milwaukee (40-32)
- Atlanta (35-38)
- Orlando (35-39)
- Chicago (33-40)
- Miami (32-41)
Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Heading into Friday night’s games, here is what the East playoff bracket looks like:
No. 1 Cleveland vs. No. 8. play-in winnerNo. 2 Boston vs. No. 7 play-in winnerNo. 3 New York vs. No. 6 MilwaukeeNo. 4 Indiana vs. No. 5 Detroit
