The Milwaukee Bucks head into Saturday's clash with the Utah Jazz barely treading water, having lost four straight games. They will try to get back on the right track without a fully healthy roster, but their opponent is also certainly on the banged-up side. Let us break down the injury reports for both sides leading up to this one.
Bucks injury report vs. the Jazz
Out: Alex Antetokounmpo (two-way), Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee swelling), Taurean Prince (right knee surgery), Cormac Ryan (two-way)
No surprises or uncertainties for the Milwaukee Bucks in this one. Antetokounmpo and Ryan have not played at all this season, and Prince likely isn't returning due to his neck procedure. Porter has missed the last two games due to knee swelling in the same knee he tore his meniscus in earlier this season, and he has no timetable to return.
It's good to see that Giannis Antetokounmpo will play in his third consecutive game. He's not fully off his minutes restriction just yet, but the fact that he doesn't have an injury designation is a positive. On the first night of a back-to-back, it will be interesting to see how his playing time is managed and if he will play in Sunday's game against the Orlando Magic.
Jazz injury report vs. the Bucks
Out: Isaiah Collier (personal reasons), Jaren Jackson Jr. (left knee injury recovery), Walker Kessler (left shoulder injury recovery), Lauri Markkanen (right hip impingement), Jusuf Nurkic (nose injury recovery), Vince Williams Jr. (left knee injury management).
It's a much lengthier injury report for Utah. The Jazz will be without a handful of their top contributors, including leading scorer Lauri Markkanen and newcomer Jaren Jackson Jr. Collier being out is a huge loss for the Jazz. The young guard has been breaking out lately, averaging 18.3 points and 7.3 assists in three games this month.
Bucks need a win to keep their season alive
A defeat to the Jazz, who are missing so many essential cogs, would send the Bucks to rock bottom. As things stand, Milwaukee is 4.5 games back of the surging Charlotte Hornets for the final Play-In spot in the East. If they want to have any hope of turning things around, they must capitalize on a team that is banged-up and loudly trying to tank.
Porter being out certainly makes things more challenging for Milwaukee, but they have other guards, such as Ryan Rollins and Cam Thomas, who must step up. Kyle Kuzma played like he had a chip on his shoulder after his recent benching, and the forward must keep that up. It would be a great game for newcomer Ousmane Dieng to go off.
No matter how it happens, the Bucks must find a way to win.
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