Milwaukee Bucks: 3 keys to victory when visiting Charlotte Hornets

Third key to victory versus Charlotte Hornets: Milwaukee Bucks need to have the better second unit showing

Both the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets have a pair of struggling second units, and whichever plays better could be a pivotal factor in this game.

At times, Milwaukee’s reserves look like they could be the best second unit in the league, but other nights their contributions have been sorely missed. This inconsistency has been a prominent storyline this year and one of the team’s looming concerns.

With these issues taken into account, Milwaukee’s bench ranks 18th in scoring this season, pitching in 34.9 points per game. They will be taking on another reserve unit that has struggled this season, averaging the 25th most bench points in the league at 32.7 per game. That gap is not as sizeable as their placing in the standings dictates, and Milwaukee’s bench needs to have the better outing.

Bobby Portis, Milwaukee’s leading scorer off the bench, has shown the sizeable impact that he can have as the team’s sixth man. When the shot is falling, Portis looks to be one of the best reserves in the association, but consistency is still a work in progress. The same goes for D.J. Augustin and Bryn Forbes, neither of which have been able to find a steady rhythm offensively and help elevate this team.

Meanwhile, the Bucks face a tall task on the other side of the ball trying to slow down promising rookie LaMelo Ball. The No. 3 overall pick in this past draft has been fantastic to start the year and very well seems to be at the forefront in the Rookie of the Year race. Along with Ball, third-year guard Miles Bridges has turned it on as of late, finishing with double-digit points in six of his last seven appearances off the bench.

The second units will play a pivotal role in this game, and hopefully, the Milwaukee Bucks’ bench can put together one of their better performances.

The Bucks will take on the Hornets at 7:00 p.m. central time tonight, and you can catch the action on Fox Sports Wisconsin.