Here is what you need to know before the Lakers battle the Milwaukee Bucks.
1)
Jordan Hill will not play Wednesday after suffering a strained hip flexor seven minutes into L.A.’s contest against New York on Sunday. Hill, who is the only Laker that has started every game this season, will be replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Tarik Black, who has played just 25 minutes over the Lakers’ last six games.
2)
Nick Young will return to the rotation tonight after sitting out the Lakers’ past three contests due to injury and coach’s decision. With Kobe Bryant out for the season, Young (14.1 ppg) becomes L.A.’s leading scorer. The Los Angeles native played just eight minutes in his last match on Jan. 25 but was heating up in his four games before that, averaging 18.3 points on 44.2 percent shooting, including a 50.0 percent clip on 3-pointers.
3)
Wednesday’s game features a matchup between teacher and student, as Byron Scott coached Bucks head coach Jason Kidd from 2000 to 2004 when the latter was playing for the New Jersey Nets. Scott and Kidd led the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003, though they were swept by the Lakers and lost in six games to San Antonio, respectively. Kenyon Martin, who signed with Milwaukee last month, was also a member of those New Jersey rosters, including the 2001-02 squad that posted the best record in franchise history (52-30).
4)
The Lakers have struggled to solve the Bucks recently, falling in their last three games against Milwaukee. L.A. has also lost five of their last six games versus the Bucks with four of those defeats coming by double digits. Should the Bucks win their fourth consecutive game over the Lakers on Wednesday, it will tie their franchise record set from 1986 to 1988.
5)
Milwaukee has been blistering lately, winning each of its last four games and leading the league in field goal percentage (48.1) and 3-point percentage (46.2) during this stretch. Meanwhile, its defense has been just as impressive, as opponents are shooting just 41.0 percent from the field and 29.2 percent on 3-pointers — leading to Milwaukee wins by an average score of 100-91.
Bucks Shot Chart (Last Four Games)
6)
The Bucks defense has been one of the best in the league this season, ranking second in defensive efficiency (98.7) and turnovers forced (17.1), while limiting opponents to the third-lowest field goal percentage (43.3). Milwaukee has also held its opponent below 90 points in a league-high 17 games, all of which ended in Bucks victories.
7)
Milwaukee has been able to place itself in playoff contention despite being hammered by injuries, which have caused the Bucks to miss a combined 163 games and use 17 different starting lineups. Wednesday’s matchup is no different, as Larry Sanders (NBA suspension), Damien Inglis (right ankle surgery) and former Laker Kendall Marshall (right ACL tear) are all out. But that’s far from all of Milwaukee’s woes, as leading scorer Brandon Knight (right quad soreness), leading rebounder Zaza Pachulia (right calf strain) and Ersan Ilyasova (right groin strain) are each listed as questionable.
8)
Knight, who poured in a career-high 37 points against the Lakers on Dec. 31 last season, has risen to another level in his fourth NBA season. The former Kentucky Wildcat is shooting career bests from the field (43.7 percent), on 3-pointers (40.5 percent) and at the free throw line (89.2 percent), while also leading the Bucks in points (17.7), assists (5.3) and steals (1.7) per game.
9)
Wednesday’s game features a matchup between the league’s top two free throw shooters: Jerryd Bayless and Nick Young. Bayless, who leads the NBA with a 93.1 percent (81-for-87) mark at the foul line, has actually stumbled a bit lately, making seven of his last 12 free throw attempts after knocking down each of his previous 58. Young, meanwhile, has made 56 of his last 58 shots at the charity stripe and is shooting 92.2 percent (119-for-129) on the season.
10)
Khris Middleton has found his rhythm over the Bucks’ last six games, averaging 17.3 points and 5.0 rebounds, while shooting 61.1 percent from the field and 63.6 percent on 3-pointers. Middleton has been one of the league’s top long-distance threats all season, ranking fourth in 3-point percentage (45.1).