A resurgent Phoenix Suns outfit have the opportunity to make it four wins in a row for the first time since November when they welcome the Milwaukee Bucks to Footprint Centre on Tuesday.
Like their hosts, the visitors also claimed a huge win in their playoff pursuit last time out and now make the trip to Arizona looking to pick up where they left off.
Match preview
© Imago
The Phoenix Suns continued their recent decimation of Eastern opponents and could not have laid down a more significant marker than Saturday's 123-112 triumph over conference leaders Cleveland Cavaliers.
Winning three of the four quarters while leading for over 43 of the 48 minutes, Mike Budenholzer's men were in control for large spells of the contest and were perhaps a tad unlucky to have only won by 11 points.
Kevin Durant recorded his second-highest scoring game of the campaign with 42 points on 17-29 shooting from the field, while also tallying six rebounds and eight assists in his 39 minutes of action.
With an automatic playoff spot looking increasingly out of reach, the Suns' most probable route to the postseason as things stand is via the play-in tournament, and on that front, they currently sit 10th in the West.
Arguably with the toughest remaining regular-season schedule of any NBA team, the Suns will need to be on song from here on out to avoid the disastrous prospect of missing out on the playoffs with such a star-studded roster.
Tuesday's game against the Bucks is the penultimate episode of a five-game homestretch, after which the home side close things out with a mouth-watering clash against defending champions the Boston Celtics.
© Imago
Following up on their resounding victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Milwaukee Bucks showed great resolve to claim a 114-108 triumph over the Sacramento Kings in Sunday's encounter at Golden 1 Center.
Despite trailing at the end of each of the opening three quarters, Doc Rivers's men remained within touching distance of their opponents before rallying in the final 12 minutes to complete an impressive turnaround.
Needing to shoulder added responsibility due to the absence of Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo was on fire for the Bucks as he racked up a game-high 32 points and 17 rebounds for his 49th double-double of the campaign.
Sandwiched in between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons, the Bucks sit fifth in the East at the moment and are all but guaranteed an automatic place in the playoffs given their seven-win buffer over the Atlanta Hawks in seventh.
Nonetheless, Tuesday's visitors will be aiming to improve on their current 40-30 record and finish as high as possible as they look to secure home court advantage for the first round of their postseason proceedings.
- L
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- L
- W
- W
Team News
© Imago
Bradley Beal (hamstring) is not expected to play any part for the Phoenix Suns here, but Vasilije Micic (calf) could be back in time to feature in Tuesday's contest.
Grayson Allen is on course to be denied a reunion against his former side as he continues to battle with a foot issue and is joined on the hosts' treatment table by Mason Plumlee (quadriceps).
Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims recently underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and is set to miss the next three weeks of action.
Thirty-four-year-old Damian Lillard was unavailable against the Kings due to a groin problem which is set to keep him out of action for the away side on Tuesday.
Phoenix Suns possible starting five:
Booker, Gillespie; Dunn, Durant; Ighodaro
Milwaukee Bucks possible starting five:
Rollins, Prince; Kuzma, Antetokounmpo; Lopez
We say: Suns to win by 3+ points
The Suns are in must-win territory at the moment, as every defeat from here on out could prove fatal to their postseason aspirations.
We are tipping the home side to come out on top here, albeit by only a narrow margin.
Adepoju Marvellous
