It’s trade-deadline eve and the Milwaukee Bucks host the New Orleans Pelicans in a game that may very well have profound implications on the Bucks’ future. Having swapped 2026 pick rights with the Pelicans as part of the Jrue Holiday trade, and the Pelicans trading their 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Derik Queen, the Bucks find themselves in the precarious position where losing is good—so long as they finish with a better record than their foes from the bayou. With Pelicans in the midst of a relative purple patch, going .500 over their last six, and the Bucks losers of eight of their last 10, the gap in the win-column has dropped to just six. Tonight then, we root for a win. Hurrah!
The Bucks have, well… continued to play basketball, even if there hasn’t been much to crow about. There was the dynamite start against Boston. And Myles Turner had a nice three-game stretch prior to that. Kyle Kuzma has tried hard too. But, yeah, it’s mostly been capital ‘R’ rough. Thankfully, the Bucks softened the edges by putting on a clinic against the Chicago Bulls, with nearly everyone playing well and Kuzma leading the way with a Giannis-esque 31 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
New Orleans is having a similarly woeful season, yet their recent results have been better, with two wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and an unexpected victory against the San Antonio Spurs. They’ve also been much more competitive in their losses, having not gone down by more than 10 points since being blown out by the Atlanta Hawks nearly a month ago. On an individual level, Saddiq Bey was in the midst of his best stretch of the season, averaging 26.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 1.4 SPG, while hitting 3.6 three-pointers at 50% over five games prior to a stinker against the Charlotte Hornets. Throw in Zion Williams, Trey Murphy, Queen, Herb Jones, and Jeremiah Fears (even if he might’ve hit the rookie wall), and the Pelicans have an array of talented guys who can get it done. Interestingly, coach James Borrego has opted to go ultra-big lately, moving Fears to the bench and starting a Queen-Williams-Bey-Murphy-Jones pentumvirate. Consequently, Jordan Poole has been collecting DNP-CDs and looks primed to again be traded, while promising big Yves Missi is apparently also being shopped.
With the Bucks on the second night of a back-to-back, their injury report has yet to be submitted, though it’s safe to say Giannis (calf) and Taurean Prince (neck) will continue to remain out. Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique) is more of a question mark, with Doc Rivers stating that he could return tonight, as is Bobby Portis, who missed last night’s game with a hip issue.
For the Pelicans, Dejounte Murray is out as he continues his Achilles rehabilitation.
Gary Trent Jr. has had a bad season. You know this. I know this. My wife (not that she’s interested) also knows this. But Trent is not a bad player and last night was a reminder of the value he can bring: 15 points on 5/8 shooting from downtown and a +17 plus/minus—his best on the campaign and just the 12th time this season he’s finished in the positives. It was even enough to earn him an A- in Jackson’s player grades. Tonight then, pay attention to whether Trent can replicate his performance. If he can, maybe it’s enough for the Bucks to nab a trade deadline prize. Or maybe it just sets him up for the remainder of the season and into next. Either way, good begets good.
FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.