3 things to watch as Milwaukee Bucks look to sweep Sacramento Kings

Can Bobby Portis get back on track for the Milwaukee Bucks?

After coming out of the All-Star break scorching hot, Bobby Portis has come back to Earth a little bit in the first couple of games in this four-game road trip.

For some perspective, Portis averaged 18 points and shot 49 percent on seven 3-point attempts in the seven games after the break. In the last two, Portis is at 5.5 points and shooting 11 percent from 3 on nine attempts.

I’m not hitting the panic button or even saying this is a problem (I mean, they beat the Utah Jazz with him scoring seven points and hit one 3), but it’s simply something to watch for this game to see if he can hit that same rhythm again.

There is that old adage that “role players play better at home” but that hasn’t applied to Portis this season. He’s shooting better from everywhere on the road compared to at home, but he’s still done very well from deep at Fiserv Forum as well.

Portis only had six points on nine shots (1-of-4 from 3) in the last game against the Kings, so if that’s an indication, then tonight will be interesting. He did grab 12 boards though!

Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play in that game, though, so I don’t know how much stock you can put into now that the Kings’ defense will focus most of their attention on the two-time MVP.

Slumps happen for all shooters and this is just one of the valleys that you have to live with from a shooter.

I’d expect a good performance from Portis tonight as a bounce-back game even if it’s not a 30 burger like he had against the Brooklyn Nets.