Aiming to pick up their first win of the 2024-25 NBA season at the third time of asking, the Brooklyn Nets face off against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Barclays Center on Sunday evening.
The Nets were on the receiving end of a defeat to the Orlando Magic last time out, while the Bucks fell well short of the challenge posed by the Chicago Bulls.
Match preview
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Off the back of a 120-116 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks in their opening encounter of the new campaign, the Brooklyn Nets headed to the Amway Center in search of an immediate response but fell to a 116-101 loss against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
After ending the first quarter with a narrow one-point advantage, Jordi Fernandez's men were beaten in each of the subsequent three quarters and trailed by as many as 18 points just past the midway point of the final 12 minutes.
Coming off a 36-point performance in his side's curtain-raiser, shooting guard Cam Thomas took a while to get going as he ended the first half with five points before posting an additional 19 in the second half to take his tally to 24.
The Nets are one of only five teams in the NBA to have lost both of their opening two matches and will be keen to get themselves back on track and snap a four-game losing streak since their pre-season triumph over the Washington Wizards on October 13.
Sunday's upcoming clash against the Bucks does not hold fond memories for the Nets, who were beaten in all three meetings between the sides last season, allowing 129.3 points per game across those clashes.
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Taking full advantage of the absence of Joel Embiid and Paul George, the Milwaukee Bucks got their season underway with a 124-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Thursday's meeting at the Wells Fargo Center.
Doc Rivers's men would have heavily fancied their chances of making it two victories from as many outings in their home opener against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, which, however, ended in a 133-122 defeat.
Despite knocking down as many shots from the field (46) as their opponents in three fewer attempts, the Bucks were outscored 21-13 from behind the arc and 20-17 from the free-throw line.
While the Bucks would have been disappointed by their defeat last time out, the performances of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard certainly offer some cause for optimism, with both men combining for 66 points after their joint 55 points against the 76ers.
In the first of three consecutive matches on the road, the 2021 NBA champions will now seek to put Saturday's loss behind them and return to winning ways before their heavyweight meeting against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.
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Team News
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Brooklyn Nets' backup center Day'Ron Sharpe is currently dealing with a left hamstring problem and is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks of action.
Trendon Watford and Bojan Bogdanovic are huge doubts to play any part in Sunday's encounter as they continue to nurse hamstring and foot injuries respectively.
Nic Claxton continues to have his minutes limit increased as he works his way back up to full fitness and could be handed a first start of the campaign here.
Khris Middleton remains the Bucks' only injury concern for this one as he is yet to fully recuperate having had surgery on both ankles during the off-season.
In Middleton's absence, Taurean Prince will retain his starting berth alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in the front court with ex-Portland Trailblazers duo Damian Lillard and Gary Trent Jr manning the backcourt.
Brooklyn Nets possible starting five:
Schroder, Thomas; Johnson, Finney-Smith; Claxton
Milwaukee Bucks possible starting five:
Lillard, Trent Jr.; Prince, Antetokounmpo; Lopez
We say: Bucks to win by 8+ points
A disappointing defeat against the Bulls last time out would have dampened the Bucks' morale heading into this one, but they should still have enough about themselves to see off the Nets in a relatively comfortable manner.
