NBA rewind: Bucks, Rockets surging; Kristaps Porziņģis returns for Celtics
Published 28 November 2024
The NBA is taking a break on Thanksgiving, one of the few days on which the league goes dark.
Earlier this season, the NBA also didn’t hold a single game on Nov. 5, election day, encouraging Americans to go out to the polls.
But the action returns Friday, with the marquee game of the night being a west coast nightcap that features the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder facing the Los Angeles Lakers.
Saturday offers a solid showdown between the Golden State Warriors at the Phoenix Suns, though the gem of the weekend will be Sunday evening when the Boston Celtics head to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers.
Bucks are catching fire, and the defense has been key
Since opening the season 2-8, the Milwaukee Bucks have completely flipped their pace and have won seven of the last eight, including the last five.
And, yes, both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have had scoring outbursts, but the Bucks have their defense to thank for the winning. During this most recent eight-game stretch, the Bucks have posted the seventh best defensive rating (108.9). By comparison, in October, Milwaukee ranked 24th in defensive rating (116.3).
Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez have intensified their rim protection, forcing slashing players to adjust their shots; Over the last eight games, the Bucks are allowing all opponents to shoot just 56.9% on field goal attempts of five feet or fewer. In October, that number was 61.8%.