Bucks vs. Hawks, Milwaukee trying to snap nine-game losing streak

The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to snap a nine-game losing streak as they host the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at Fiserv Forum.

The Bucks are 1-12, tied for the worst record in the NBA with Utah. Milwaukee is on the verge of tying the 1974-75 team for the worst start in franchise history as that team began the year 1-13 as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar missed the first 16 games due to injury. This is the first season the Bucks are playing after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The last time Milwaukee lost 10 straight games was Nov. 9-30 during the tanking 2013-14 season, which was Antetokounmpo's rookie year.

Atlanta is 7-6 and has lost two straight.

Are the Bucks tanking?

No. Milwaukee does not possess its own pick in the 2027 draft, as it is the last bit of compensation for the Jrue Holiday trade in 2020 with New Orleans. The Pelicans actually traded that pick to Atlanta, with protections. Under first-year coach Taylor Jenkins, the Bucks are indeed trying to win as much as they can.

For more information on where the Bucks currently stand regarding its future draft possibilities, click here.

Bucks among league worst in most categories

At some point you are what the record says you are, and while there is belief in the Bucks locker they could’ve won more than one game to date, with 15% of the season gone the numbers say the team is indeed one of the worst in the NBA.

Heading into the game against Atlanta, Milwaukee is:

• 22^nd in turnovers (16.6)
• 27^th in free throw shooting (74.1%)
• 27^th in points allowed per game (120.2)
• 28^th in offensive rating (105.7 points per 100 possessions)
• 28^th in defensive rating (120 points allowed per 100 possessions)
• 29^th in scoring (106.2 points per game)
• 29^th in field goal percentage (42.8%)
• 30^th in net rating at minus-14.2 (two entire points worse than Sacramento)

The areas that Milwaukee aims to be good at, or at least better than most at, are mediocre at best:

• 14^th in pace (100.31 possessions per 48 minutes)
• 18^th in offensive rebounding percentage, or how often a player secures available offensive rebounds (30.5)
• 19^th in 3-point percentage (34.2)
• 29^th in turnovers forced (13.1) and steals (6.5)

By the raw numbers, Milwaukee is the No. 6 team in offensive rebounding (13.3 per game), but they are just tied for 12^th in second chance scoring at 15.7 points per game.

They are No. 7 in 3-pointers made (14.8) and No. 4 in attempts (43.2) but are shooting an almost-impossible 26.2% on “open” 3-pointers [defined as the nearest defender being 4-6 feet away], 2.3 percentage points worse than the No. 29 Charlotte Hornets.

Milwaukee is generating 17.0 “open” threes per game, which is third best in the league. But at this point, it might be fair to wonder if teams are just leaving players open because the Bucks aren’t making these attempts.

Milwaukee Bucks projected starters

• Guards: Tyler Herro, Brayden Burries
• Forwards: Nate Ament, Kyle Kuzma
• Center: Myles Turner

Bucks injury report

• Ryan Rollins, questionable (illness)
• Ousmane Dieng, out (left finger sprain)

What channel is the Bucks game on?

The game will be broadcast on MY24 with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the call.

What time is the Bucks game?

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

When will the Bucks win again?

Here are Milwaukee’s next three games:

• Nov. 18 at Miami, 6 p.m. CT
• Nov. 19 vs. Portland, 7 p.m. CT
• Nov. 21 at Philadelphia, 12 p.m. CT

Bucks vs. Hawks odds

Atlanta is a 7.5-point favorite over Milwaukee and the over/under is set at 234.5 points, per BetMGM.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks vs. Hawks, Milwaukee trying to snap nine-game losing streak