NBA Game of the Week: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Clippers

On Saturday evening, the Milwaukee Bucks will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers at Intuit Dome in a non-conference matchup. This is a game that features two highly competitive teams that will be coming off of matchups against lesser opponents, those being the Heat and the Wizards, respectively.

As it stands, the Bucks are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, three games behind the Knicks for third place. However, they’ve gotten hot recently, winning seven of their last ten games including four consecutive victories. All of this totals to a record of 24-17.

The Clippers, on the other hand, have a very similar record at 24-19 but play in the admittedly more competitive Western Conference. They sit in sixth place and have scuffled a bit as of late. However, they’re a strong 15-8 at home this season as they welcome the Bucks into town.

The Bucks are led by their all-world power forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak, who is an eight-time all-star and two-time MVP award winner, has been in his element this season. In fact, he’s currently averaging the most points per game out of any season he has played in the NBA at 31.5 ppg. For reference, this is his 12th season, and he shares the court with another legendary player, Damien Lillard.

Lillard has also shown no signs of slowing down this season. The veteran has played in 34 games and is averaging 25 points per game on the nose. He’s also been his usual strong self from three-point range, as he’s hoisted up a shade under nine of them per game while converting .392 percent of them.

Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez have all also provided valuable scoring contributions out of the starting five and off the bench.

However, it will be most challenging for the Clippers to stifle the two-headed-monster of Antetokounmpo and Lillard.

The Clippers feature more of a spread-out attack on offense, as six players are currently averaging over 10 points per game. One of those players is Kawhi Leonard, who has yet to really get it going since his return from a knee injury but is one of the most dynamic players in the league at his best.

Center Ivaca Zubac will try to utilize his seven-foot, 240-pound frame to clog up the paint and hopefully keep Antetokounmpo on the perimeter. The Bosnian native in his seventh season with the Clippers has stepped up in a major way, averaging a career-high 15 points per game. He’s also averaging a hair over one block per game.

Not to be forgotten are the duo of Norman Powell and James Harden. Powell, who won the Sixth Man of the Year award each of the past two seasons, has been a starter this season and has made the most of his newfound opportunities.

He averages three and a half three-pointers per game. Harden, meanwhile, has been a tremendous compliment to Powell with his ability to pass, leading the team with 8.1 assists per game.

With both teams being avid three-point shooting squads, the game will not be won on the perimeter. It will likely come down to which team controls the paint and is able to score at a high efficiency in the restricted area.

With this matchup looking as though it’ll be just about as tightly contested as it gets in the NBA, don’t be surprised if the game also comes down to who converts a higher percentage of their free throws. This year, that’s been the Clippers.

Dominick Pizzelanti is a second-year dual majoring in broadcast journalism and Spanish. To contact him, email dqp5565@psu.edu.