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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

After an alarming loss to the Utah Jazz on the road, the Milwaukee Bucks head to Footprint Center to face the Phoenix Suns. Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s double-double, the Bucks blew their sixteen-point lead for a final score of 108-123. The consequences of their fall didn’t end there, as it resulted in them losing their place in East’s standing to the Cavaliers. The Bucks will look to end their road trip with a win, but their injury report might hinder them in that mission.

Both of their current franchise stars feature on the injury report with Damian Lillard listed as questionable and Giannis as probable. There’s a possibility that Antetokounmpo might not participate in the Suns game because of Patellar Tendinitis on his right knee.

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Dame is currently contending with a left ankle sprain, which had already placed him on the injury report ahead of Sunday’s game against the Jazz. Despite it being the second night of a back-to-back, Lillard opted to play, potentially hindering his recovery process. His ankle appeared to be a source of discomfort during the Jazz game, contributing to one of his subpar performances, scoring only 12 points with a shooting accuracy of 27.7%.

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This new development poses a doubt about the Bucks roster being able to contend with the Suns, as all their starters appear to be in form. In their last game, Barley Beal dropped 43 points on his former team the Washington Wizards, and in the last 10 games since the core trio of Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have enabled them to win 7 out of 10 games. If the ‘Greek Freak’ indeed plans to sit this one out, the game will not be the Bucks’ way.

The Suns have displayed dominance, winning seven of their previous 10 games and boasting a strong 14-10 record at home. Their exceptional 3-point shooting stands at 38.0%, ranking fourth, with a 2.8 net rating and an offensive rating of 118.8, placing them tenth. Despite all this, the Bucks will try their best to secure the win.

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Bucks’ chances against the Suns

This season the Bucks have faced challenges defensively. Following the dismissal of Adrian Griffin and the appointment of new coach Doc Rivers, they now are 1-3, looking to take home more wins. They’ve split their last 10 games and maintain a 12-12 record on the road.

The anticipated outcome of the matchup hinges on late-game scenarios in the fourth quarter, where the Bucks have struggled, conceding an average of 31.3 points on the road in their last three games. In contrast, the Suns excel in the fourth quarter at home, averaging 31.0 points.

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Read More: Bucks GM Justifies Shocking Adrian Griffin Dismissal: “Dynamic of the Team Has Changed”

So, given the numbers, who do you think has better odds of winning? Let us know in the comments.