Charlotte Hornets: Preview and things to watch for vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The Charlotte Hornets ended a two-game losing street with a clutch win at home against the Indiana Pacers. However, Charlotte will now switch gears and play the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

The Bucks are currently the 2nd best team in the Eastern Conference, but they are also coming off a close loss from Friday. Both teams will be tired, so this game’s winner will be the one with the most energy.

The Hornets lost all three games against the Bucks last season. Charlotte came close in the final two, but they could not finish off with a win. The Hornets dramatically improved in each matchup against the Bucks.

Charlotte has not changed a lot from last season, but they do have a stellar rookie and an All-Star caliber small forward. The Hornets have a good chance with their improved roster.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Milwaukee Bucks
8:00 p.m. EST, Saturday, January 30th, 2021
Spectrum Center
Fox Sports Southeast

Stream: Fubo.tv

Injury Report:

CHA:

None

MIL:

None

Things to watch for:

PJ Washington is coming off one of his best games of the season. He only missed one shot and could be poised for another good. However, he will have a lot to handle in the paint with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Gordon Hayward had an off game on Friday, only scoring 11 points. A game like this is rare for Hayward, so fans should expect him to come out and lead his team again with his terrific scoring abilities.

Both teams are relatively healthy, but the Bucks got worn down on Friday night. The Bucks starters played many minutes, but they did not get an outrageous amount of support from their bench. Fans should watch how both teams handle their rotations in this one.

Keys to the game:

Guarding Antetokounmpo should be one of the Hornets’ main priorities heading into Saturday’s game. He’s the Bucks’ leading scorer and must be held in check on defense.

The Bucks are one of the best scoring teams in the league, with about 119.8 scored points per game. Charlotte must limit their scoring in this one and find ways to score off Milwaukee’s missed opportunities.

This will also be another game where the Hornets must win the rebounding battle. The Bucks are the 2nd best rebounding team in the league. Charlotte must defend and grab rebounds if they want to come out with a win.