Bobby Portis returns just in time for Milwaukee Bucks to adapt to a playoffs.
Portis is expected to take the court when Bucks (44-34) hosts Minnesota Timberwolves (46-32) on Tuesday evening. It is the first game where he is eligible to play since he completed a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug program.
Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. said that everyone was happy to welcome Back Portis, who last played February 12.
“That means everything as a team as a collective group,” Trent said. “(We enjoy) that energy, that spirit. And then only personally, myself as someone on the other device, I miss him to death. He made my job easier, so he’s back will be a beautiful thing.”
Portis returns to a buck’s squad that wants to drive its winning line to five matches. Milwaukee wrapped a perfect three-game road trip and returns home for a two-game set against Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans.
Minnesota also comes in threats because it seems to drive its winning line to six matches. Timberwolves are in a crowded playoffs in the Western Conference when they hope to climb into the six best and avoid the Play-in tournament.
In his latest game, Timberwolves held a victory 114-109 over the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite the victory, coaches and players said that they must be improved in their next game.
“We have too many times individually where we let a missed shot or a bad turnover that we (add) to ourselves transfer for several possessions,” said Timberwolves guard Mike Conley. “We will miss a guy who is leaking in the transition, things we are not used to doing.
“We play hard … but when we have too many guys’ minds in different places, frustrated over themselves or frustrated at how the game goes for them. You just see as our team just split a little as far as the connection we need to play with.”
Bucks is led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, which an average of 30.5 points per match at 60.2 percent shooting from the field. He also goes with the team with 11.9 returns per match.
Second-leading goal scorer Damian Lillard has missed the last ten games with deep vein thrombosis. It leaves Kyle Kuzma (14.4 points per match) and Portis (13.7) to round out the team’s top harvesters.
Anthony Edwards leads Minnesota with 27.4 PPG points of 44.6 percent shooting in total, including 39.7 percent shooting from 3-point intervals. Julius Randle (18.7 points per match) and Naz Reid (14.3) are ranked as second and third on the team.
This is the second and final matchup between the teams during the regular season. Milwaukee won the first match 103-101 on February 12 in Minneapolis.
Trent led Bucks-who played without Antetokounmpo and Lillard-with 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting in the first game. Kuzma added 19 points and 13 returns and postage recorded eight points, six returns and four assists in his last performance before his suspension.
Edwards received 28 points on 10-for-33 shooting for Minnesota. Reid (22 points, 13 returns) and Rudy Gobert (20 points, 14 returns) each registered double doubles.
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