3 big things to watch for as Milwaukee Bucks visit Denver Nuggets

Following a very successful 5-0 homestand, the Milwaukee Bucks are back on the road and head to the Mile High City to take on the depleted Denver Nuggets. The Bucks are 11-8, are slowly starting to find their rhythm, and have won five straight. The Nuggets, however, have lost five straight and are down plenty of key players coming into this one.

Things have been fairly even between these two teams over the last three seasons, splitting the six games 3-3, including a split of last year’s season series that saw the road team win each game. Depending on a certain Serbian big man’s availability, tonight’s game may not be as interesting.

The Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray (ACL recovery), Michael Porter Jr (back), and P.J. Dozier (torn ACL) for sure. Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has missed the past three games with a wrist issue, so it remains to be seen if he’ll play tonight. Regardless, the Nuggets still have some talented players who will be available, and playing in Denver is never easy.

Can Khris Middleton find a consistent rhythm on the road for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Denver Nuggets?

Khris Middleton returned right at the beginning of the Bucks’ five-game homestand and the Bucks proceeded to win five straight games. It should be no coincidence that the Bucks ripped off their best stretch of the season when Middleton returned, but his individual performances weren’t necessarily the reason.

Over those five games, Middleton averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Although his efficiency numbers aren’t bad, they’re not what you expect from Middleton with a 52.7 percent true shooting and a 47.4 percent effective field goal rate.

Part of why his points per game average is so low is that Middleton didn’t need to do as much with the hot streak that Bobby Portis has been on. The other issue was that he struggled mightily on his 2-point attempts, going 12-of-31 (38.7 percent) which is right about the same as his 3-point mark (38.5 percent).

All in all, it is great to see Middleton back and he has still found ways to impact the game even with his shot not falling, specifically with his passing. Middleton struggled early in the season from 3-point range but has found his rhythm from behind the arc and it’s only a matter of time before he finds it inside the arc as well.