Milwaukee Bucks: 3 keys to victory when hosting Sacramento Kings

In the fourth matchup of their current eight-game homestand, the Milwaukee Bucks will welcome the Sacramento Kings to town Sunday night.

The Kings will be on short rest as they played against the Chicago Bulls last night in the Windy City, losing 122-114. With the loss, Sacramento fell to 12-17 on the season and stand at 11th place in the loaded Western Conference. Part of Sacramento’s issues this season stem from their historically bad play on the defensive side of the ball, and it would be compelling to see how they combat Milwaukee’s historically great offense.

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Meanwhile, the Bucks finally snapped their five-game losing streak Friday night, taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder 98-85. Following their first victory in 11 days, the Bucks are now 17-13 on the season.

They still occupy the Eastern Conference’s third seed, where they have been stuck during this recent skid. This team desperately needs another win to spark some momentum.

This homestand gives them the perfect opportunity to do so, and they take advantage during their final five games at Fiserv Forum before they hit the road once again. With that being said, here are three keys to victory for the Bucks as they take aim at two in a row.

First to victory when hosting Sacramento Kings — Milwaukee Bucks need to win the battle down low

The Kings are not among the most gifted teams offensively, but they know how to put points on the board in the post. With a slew of big men like Marvin Bagley III, Hassan Whiteside, and Richaun Holmes manning the middle, the Kings are currently putting up 53.5 points in the paint per game, the fourth highest mark in the association.

Meanwhile, the Bucks boast the fourth-lowest mark in the opponent’s paint points, coming in at just 42.7 per game. Their drop-back defensive scheme certainly has its flaws, but it could prove impactful in a game against a team with a niche for scoring in the post.

On the other hand, Milwaukee should look to exploit Sacramento’s subpar defense down low, as they let up the most points in the paint this season at 53 per game. The Bucks are ranked 12th in scoring in the paint at 47.5 points, and they should be able to bump that number up several ticks in this game.

Sacramento’s subpar defense in the paint means that Giannis Antetokounmpo should have a massive impact on this game offensively. The Greek Freak ranks second in the NBA with 488 total paint points this season, expressing his dominance in the post on a nightly basis.

Winning the battle offensively and defensively in the post will be pivotal for either side in this game, and the Bucks should emphasize taking control.