Get up to speed on the latest NBA news, plus a quick look at some storylines and tidbits worth noting today:
1. Party like its the 1980s: The Bucks have been an unstoppable force of late, sporting an 11-game win streak and a 17-3 mark. The latter is the team’s longest such run since 1984-85 and a win tonight in New York (8 ET, League Pass) would give Milwaukee its longest win streak since 1981-82. Going even further back, Milwaukee’s 17-3 start is its best since the ’70-71 and ’71-72 seasons. Since the 2013-14 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 20.7 ppg and shooting 50.2% vs. the Knicks (and the Bucks are 15-3 in those games).
2. Opposites attract in Philly: The Jazz and Sixers are heading in opposite directions over their last nine games, with Utah going 4-5 over that stretch and Philadelphia at 7-2. The squads meet tonight (7 ET, NBA TV) in a game that will feature superstar centers Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid. As much as these big men will shape tonight’s game, also worth watching is how this game could be a springboard for either squad. Utah has a somewhat-easy schedule in December while Philadelphia has the opposite scenario.
3. Rough run of it lately, huh?: Were it not for wins against the Bulls and Grizzlies, the Warriors would be in the midst of a 14-game losing streak. Were it not for John Collins’ 25-game suspension, the Hawks might not be in the midst of their 10-game slide. Either way, these two struggling teams meet (7:30 ET, League Pass) and perhaps the lone reason to watch might be for Trae Young. He has scored 30 or more in four of his last five games, including back-to-back games of 37 and 49 points.
4. When Dirk had it cooking …: Fifteen years ago today, the Mavs and Rockets squared off in a showdown of West powers. While the Dirk Nowitzki-Tracy McGrady showdown likely received top billing back then, it was all about Nowitzki on this night. He lit up the Rockets for a single-game career-high 53 points in a 113-106 overtime win. Nowtizki scored 10 or more points in every quarter but the third (he had eight) and added 10 in OT to power the victory.
