Tip-off: Friday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Milwaukee -4.5, Total: 202.0

The Bucks will be looking to make up some ground on the Hawks with a win in Milwaukee on Friday.

Atlanta has really been struggling as of late, as the team has lost five straight games and could be in danger of really sliding in the Eastern Conference standings in the next few weeks. The Hawks most recently faced the Wizards in Washington, and they lost that game 104-100. The Bucks, meanwhile, have now won 10 of their past 12. They most recently went into Sacramento and beat the Kings 116-98 as 5.5-point road favorites. Milwaukee has won the turnover battle in four of its past five games, and that is something the team will definitely be looking to do again on Friday. The Hawks will be the more confident team on Friday, though. Atlanta is 3-0 both SU and ATS when facing Milwaukee this season, but that might not hold up without PF Paul Millsap (Knee). Millsap is expected to miss this game for the Hawks and it would be a big loss if he can’t go. Atlanta will also be without SF Kent Bazemore (Knee), who is out indefinitely for the team. Milwaukee, meanwhile, is without SF Jabari Parker (Knee) for the remainder of the season. C John Henson (Thumb) is also likely going to be out for this team, as he got injured against the Kings on Wednesday.

If the Hawks are going to win on Friday then C Dwight Howard (13.1 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 1.3 BPG) is going to need to play very well for Atlanta. With Millsap out, Howard is the only guy that the Hawks can really throw the ball into for a bucket. He has not, however, picked up his offense with Millsap out. Howard is averaging just 11.6 PPG over the past five contests, and he is going to need to do more on Friday. If he doesn’t score at least 20 points then it’s hard to imagine Atlanta winning this one. One guy that should be able to pick up his game is SG Tim Hardaway Jr. (14.1 PPG). Hardaway Jr. had 29 points in a loss to Washington last game, and he has stepped up when his team needs him this season. Look for him to score 20 or more in this one, as he will definitely get a ton of open looks. PG Dennis Schroder (17.7 PPG, 6.2 APG) is the guy tasked with finding both Howard and Hardaway Jr. It’d be big if he can dish out 10 or more assists in this one, as he has not done so since Mar. 13 and needs to do a better job of distributing.

The Bucks are on fire right now and SF Khris Middleton (15.4 PPG, 1.3 SPG) has been playing some great basketball for this team. Over the past five games, Middleton is averaging 19.2 PPG on 52.2% shooting from the floor and 60.0% shooting from three. Against a Hawks team that is struggling, he should be able to keep it up on Friday. SF Giannis Antetokounmpo (23.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.9 BPG, 1.7 SPG) is also playing well, and he has really been exceptional all year for this team. Antetokounmpo could very well make the All-NBA First Team this season, and there really isn’t anybody on the Hawks that can slow him down. Look for him to fill up the stat sheet on Friday, and also watch for him to play very well on the defensive end.