SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Milwaukee Bucks once again are in position to put together their first three-game winning streak of the season when they face the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center.
Milwaukee melted down in the final minutes of the second quarter with turnovers, jawing with Golden State players and the officials and fell behind 64-53 at the break. The Warriors ended the second quarter on a 11-3 run to give themselves breathing room. Golden State shot 48% from behind the 3-point line and made eight more threes than the Bucks (4 of 14).
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 points for the Bucks, but he also committed three fouls. Stephen Curry had 14 for the Warriors.
The Bucks and Warriors are tied 31-31 after the first quarter thanks to shooting 61.9% overall. The Warriors scored seven points off five Bucks turnovers. Stephen Curry scored 10 points for Golden State while five different Bucks scored.
Milwaukee (16-20) won consecutive games against the Charlotte Hornets and the Sacramento Kings and is looking for a third consecutive victory tonight, Jan. 7. The Bucks beat Golden State (19-18) without Giannis Antetokounmpo at Fiserv Forum on Oct. 30.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes. The Bucks superstar is not on the injury report despite suffering what appeared to be another leg injury in the team’s win over Sacramento on Jan. 4. In the second half Antetokounmpo has his leg rolled up on and fell to the court with a loud expletive, but he finished the game strong.
Antetokounmpo went through practice in San Francisco with the team on Jan. 6 without issue, but he remains under a minute restriction, however, which is right about 30 minutes.
Is Stephen Curry playing?
Yes. One of the league’s all-time greats is not on the Warriors injury report. The point guard is leading the league in 3-point makes and attempts while averaging 28.7 points per game.
Bucks guarantee Amir Coffey’s contract
The Bucks elected to guaranteed the full season salary of wing Amir Coffey on Jan. 7, as the deadline for teams to waive or guarantee non-guaranteed deals was 4 p.m. CT. Coffey made the team out of training camp after signing a 1-year, $2.3 million non-guaranteed camp deal.
The 28-year-old wing appeared in 22 games for the Bucks heading into the game against the Warriors, averaging 1.5 points per game on 25% shooting from behind the 3-point line. He had not played since Dec. 26 and was last regularly in the rotation in mid-November.
Bucks waive Mark Sears
The Bucks created a two-way roster spot by waiving rookie guard Mark Sears on Jan. 7. Sears, an undrafted free agent out of Alabama, appeared in seven games for the Bucks early in the season. He averaged 3.1 points and shot 50% from behind the 3-point line. Sears averaged 19.7 points and 5.7 assists while playing for the Wisconsin Herd in the G League.
Players on a two-way contract can play up to 50 NBA games, but they are not eligible for the postseason unless their deal is fully guaranteed.
Milwaukee Bucks injury report
Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)
Bucks starting lineup
What time is the Bucks game?
Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Stephen Watson on the call.
Bucks vs. Warriors odds
Golden State is a 6.5-point favorite over Milwaukee with the over/under set at 229.5 points, per BetMGM.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Warriors lead Bucks 64-53 at halftime
Reporting by Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
