Pregame report: Giannis gets another chance at Jazz
It was a forgettable night for Giannis Antetokounmpo the last time the Milwaukee Bucks faced the Utah Jazz.
Antetokounmpo struggled to score nine points and was outplayed by fellow all-star Gordon Hayward in the Bucks' 104-88 loss in Salt Lake City on Feb. 1. The Greek Freak hit just 2 of 10 shots while Hayward led the Jazz with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Jazz coach Quin Snyder said it's not easy to contain Antetokounmpo, who scored a team-high 30 points for the East in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday in New Orleans.
"Against a great player you have to be fortunate," Snyder said. "He didn't have one of his better nights. The challenge with him is trying to stay between him and the basket.
"When guys long jump, they jump over you. He takes those big steps and he's on the rim. Easier said (defending that) than done. He's a budding superstar.
"His versatility defensively makes it difficult to attack him any certain way. You have to do your best not to turn the ball over because he's so active."
The Bucks are trying to end a five-game losing streak against the Jazz and avoid a third straight series sweep by Utah (35-22), currently the fifth-seeded team in the West.
Milwaukee (25-30) won three in a row before the break to halt a slide that included 12 losses over a 14-game stretch.
"I think our defense has gotten better," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. "Guys want to shoot the ball and there are more shots with Jabari (Parker) being out. There are more shots for (Michael) Beasley, more shots for Moose (Greg Monroe), more shots for Giannis, across the board. Guys are taking advantage of that."
Kidd said Khris Middleton would come off the bench, as he did in the four games he played prior to the break. The 6-foot-8 Middleton will stay on restricted minutes after returning from hamstring surgery. Middleton had 20 points and seven assists in 26 minutes and helped the Bucks secure a 129-125 road victory over Brooklyn in the last game before the break.
"He's a crucial part of what they do," Snyder said. "I felt awful for him and for Jason when he went down and it's great that he's back as quickly as he is. We've gone through it with Dante (Exum) and Milwaukee went through it with Jabari. It takes time to find your rhythm.
"He (Middleton) shoots it so well and is so fundamentally sound. He's playing well already and he stretches the floor. He creates more space and makes it harder to stay between Giannis and the basket."
