GAME DAY FROM MILWAUKEE:
Bulls (16-28, 7-14 on the road) at Bucks (38-6, 20-2 at home)
TV: NBCSC: Neil Funk and Stacey King: 4PM.
RADIO: 670 The Score: Chuck Swirsky, Bill Wennington, and David Schuster: 3:45 Pre.
LEADING SCORERS: Bulls: LaVine: 24 ppg. Bucks: Antetokounmpo: 30 ppg.
LEADING REBOUNDERS: Bulls: Markkanen: 6 per. Bucks: Antetokounmpo: 12 per.
LEADING ASSISTS: Bulls: Satoransky: 5 per. Bucks: Antetokounmpo: 5 per.
Season Series: Milwaukee 3-0.
KEY STAT IN SEASON SERIES: FTA Avg. In 3 games: Bucks: 35 Bulls: 15.
I am honored to be able to broadcast an NBA game as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King.
PREVIEW: The Bulls make a mini one-game stop to finish off the season series in Milwaukee. The Bulls are five back of the eighth seed and the free-falling Nets for the final playoff spot. With a second-half push by the Bulls is it conceivable this could be a preview of the opening round of the playoffs? Just a thought. One game at a time. Five of the next six Bulls opponents are under .500 in the standings.
The Bulls are coming off another spectacular Zach LaVine performance (42-6-3- 5 steals) against the Cavaliers and they'll need another high-level game from the All-Star worthy guard today against a Bucks team that is just destroying opponents posting the Association's best record at 38-6, 20-2 at home. The Bucks have won six straight and 11 of 12. Milwaukee averages a league-high 119 points per game and are first in differential at 12.6.
Highest PPG in January: Devin Booker 31.9, James Harden 31.9, Kawhi Leonard 31.7, Zach LaVine 30.6
Giannis Antetokounmpo is well on his way to his second straight MVP award. LeBron James is in the mix as is Luka Doncic, James Harden, etc. but Giannis is posting 30-12-5 numbers. Against the Bulls, he's averaging 31-12 and shooting 56% going to the line 12 times per game. The Bucks are outscoring the Bulls in the season series 120-106.
Meantime, Zach LaVine is showcasing his skills before Eastern Conference coaches on a nightly basis demonstrating not only his ability to score the basketball but rebound, assist and play defense.
A positive sign coming out of the Cavs game was the play of Lauri Markkanen who poured in 17 points.
24 SECONDS NBA NEWS AND NOTES:
"Game of the Night" Indiana 115, Denver 107: Doug McDermott went off scoring 18 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter. McDermott wants to be a part of the 3 points All-Star Contest. Domantas Sabonis was nasty: 22 points-15 rebounds-10 assists.
San Antonio 107, Miami 102: The up again-down again Spurs got 21 points from LaMarcus Aldridge.
Utah inked the underrated Royce O'Neale to a four year-36 million dollar deal. He is the consummate 3 and D player.
Thanks for reading CCI. Reach out: cswirsky@bulls.com or Twitter @ctsbulls
Always a pleasure.