The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to bounce back tonight as they face the Minnesota Timberwolves at Fiserv Forum following a challenging end to their recent road trip. Historically, the first game back after a road trip can be tough for home teams, so the Bucks need to come out strong. In their previous encounter on December 22, Milwaukee played well for much of the game but ultimately fell to Minnesota, who staged a staggering 25-8 run in the third quarter. With key absences on the Timberwolves’ side due to injuries and suspensions, the Bucks have a prime opportunity to avenge that loss.
Recently, the Bucks wrapped up a four-game road swing, achieving victories against the Kings and Lakers but facing defeats against the Warriors and Nuggets. Despite the two losses, Milwaukee posted the league’s 12th-best net rating during that stretch, which offers some encouragement. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be a focal point, with the team performing significantly better with him on the court (+10.8) compared to when he is off (-10.4). Finding a strategy that boosts performance in non-Giannis minutes remains essential for the Bucks, who have been grappling with this issue.
On the other side, the Timberwolves are currently on a roll, having secured six wins in their last eight games. Recently, they split a series with Cleveland and edged out the Spurs with a last-second shot from Anthony Edwards. Impressively, Minnesota boasts the NBA’s sixth-best net rating over the same timeframe, along with a second-best effective field goal percentage, highlighting their current rhythm. However, they will be tested tonight as both Edwards and Rudy Gobert will be unavailable—Edwards due to an injury and Gobert due to a suspension for multiple flagrant fouls.
In the injury report for the Bucks, Taurean Prince is out with a neck issue, while Myles Turner is listed as questionable due to illness. For the Timberwolves, in addition to Gobert and Edwards, TJ Shannon will also miss the game due to a foot injury.
With Edwards sidelined, the Timberwolves will need to rely on Julius Randle for scoring. Randle is expected to be aggressive and could target mismatches against Giannis, leveraging his size to exploit smaller defenders. Their past encounters have been intensely competitive, setting the stage for another gritty matchup tonight.
Fans can catch the action live on the FanDuel Sports Network in Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST. With the stakes high, this game presents a critical moment for the Bucks to reassert themselves as they aim to capitalize on the Timberwolves’ current player shortages.