Amidst a seven-game losing streak, the Charlotte Hornets travel to the City of Light, hoping to defeat the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks.
Sometimes, being a sports fan is hard. It’s especially hard being a Charlotte Hornets (15-30) fan given their recent play. It would seem the Hornets’ playoff chances are all but dead, and with a tough game against the NBA’s best team coming up, it could get worse.
This upcoming game is special, however, as they’ll head off to Paris, France to play the Milwaukee Bucks (39-6). The same Milwaukee Bucks who are currently tearing up the rest of the NBA. They’re on a league-best seven-game winning streak and have won nine of their last ten. They’ve also beaten Charlotte three straight dating back to last year.
So, you have the team with the longest winning streak facing off against the team with the longest losing streak. I’m not trying to paint the dourest picture I can, but it’s looking like things are going to get worse before they get better. Still, through thick and thin, the team needs our support, and I, for one, intend to keep giving it.
Charlotte’s last game was a 106-83 loss to the Orlando Magic. They are 12th in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks’ last one was a 111-98 win over the Chicago Bulls. They are 1st in the East. This is the second of three matchups against Milwaukee this season.
Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks
3:00 p.m. EST, Friday, January 24th, 2020
AccorHotels Arena
Fox Sports Southeast and NBATV
Stream: Fubo.tv
Injury Report:
CHA:
None
MIL:
Wesley Matthews – Illness (Questionable)
Robin Lopez – Illness (Out)
Frank Mason III – Oblique (Questionable)
Things to watch for:
Although it’s on a neutral site in an entirely different country, this game is technically counted as a home game for the Hornets. They’ll certainly have their fair share of fans as they’ll most likely be cheering native Frenchman, Nicolas Batum. Batum is from the Normandy region of France, Lisieux, specifically. This will be the first time he’ll get to play an NBA game in his home country, and I’m sure he’s excited. Hopefully, he can put on a show.
It’s been four years since the Hornets won the season series against the Bucks. Most don’t think this year will be the year they do that again, but with two games left against Milwaukee, they have a chance. It won’t be easy, of course, when you’re facing off against arguably the best player in the game and reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. All I have to say is, you never know.
Keys to the game:
It should be no surprise that Milwaukee is at or near the top of the league in most categories. Something to note, however, is that the Bucks are second to last in free-throw percentage, making just 72% of their shots at the line. Oddly enough, part of that is on Giannis, who shoots just 60% from the charity stripe. If the Hornets can make him beat them at the line, that could mitigate his output.
Charlotte and Milwaukee are neck and neck in terms of opponent three-point field goal percentage. They rank 20th and 19th in that category, respectively. If the Hornets can punish the Bucks from deep and take advantage of their seemingly mediocre perimeter defense, that would help them as well.
This should be a fun one for fans of both teams. It’s not every day you get to play an NBA game on a whole other continent. Can they get a win for Nic in front of his home fans? Tune in on Friday afternoon to find out.