Milwaukee Bucks: 3 critical things to watch for against San Antonio Spurs

May 10, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
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Milwaukee Bucks: Donte DiVincenzo, San Antonio Spurs: Patty Mills
May 10, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks won’t have to wait long to try to put their big loss to the Miami Heat behind them as they continue their road trip against the San Antonio Spurs tonight.

The Bucks split the season series with the Spurs one game apiece last year, but lost the only matchup in San Antonio, giving up 146 points. Seven players for the Spurs scored in double figures that game, but the good news for the Bucks is that three of those players (DeMar DeRozan, Patty Mills, and Rudy Gay) are no longer with the team. However, the Bucks are just 1-3 on the road against the Spurs since head coach — and former Spurs assistant — Mike Budenholzer took over in 2018. This iteration of the Spurs are young and athletic but will be coming off the first half of a back-to-back on the road against the Denver Nuggets, so there’s a chance for the undermanned Bucks to bump up that road record.

How healthy will the Milwaukee Bucks be going into their matchup against the San Antonio Spurs?

It’s the biggest story surrounding the defending champs at the moment and although they were able to overcome missing four potential rotation players on opening night, adding two starters in Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez to their injury list was too much against the Heat.

This was to be expected with the Bucks after such a short offseason, they are going to be extra cautious with injuries. Holiday was listed as probable for the game against the Heat, but the team sat him out anyway. Lopez wasn’t even on the injury report but sat the game out with back soreness. This is what the 2021-22 season will be like for the Bucks, a lot of rest and taking extra precaution with injuries.

The updated injury report has Holiday once again listed as probable with his heel contusion, so we’ll see if he actually makes it in the game this time. One big update is that Rodney Hood is probable for tonight’s contest as he looks to make his Bucks debut.

That’s the end of the good news, however. As expected, Donte DiVincenzo remains out as he recovers from offseason surgery but Semi Ojeleye and Bobby Portis were also ruled out. Notably, Lopez is still out with back soreness so hopefully this isn’t something that keeps him out much longer than tonight.

That will mean continued minutes for Jordan Nwora and Sandro Mamukelashvili, with Justin Robinson still mixing in as well. It’s not pretty, but that’s life as the defending champs coming off a shortened offseason.