The Milwaukee Bucks are 3-0 since firing head coach Jason Kidd and the change at the helm may have lit a fire under some of the players. The Bucks seek their first four-game winning streak since November when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
"I see that guys are playing harder," All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters following Sunday's 110-96 win at Chicago. "Some guys - I don't know what they're thinking in their heads. Maybe (they were) not OK with what happened. I just see guys playing hard." Antetokounmpo scored 27 points in the victory and is averaging 34 along with 11 rebounds since returning from a knee issue. The 76ers had won nine of 11 before falling 122-112 at Oklahoma City on Sunday despite 27 points and 10 rebounds by Joel Embiid. The All-Star center, who is averaging 23.6 points and 10.9 boards, has yet to play in both ends of a back-to-back but has been cleared to do so and will be available Monday depending on how he recovers from Sunday's game - during which he played 36 minutes. The Sixers pounded Milwaukee 116-94 at home on Jan. 20 behind 29 points and nine rebounds from Embiid.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE 76ERS (24-22): Philadelphia continues to operate without a pair of key guards in JJ Redick (leg) and Jerryd Bayless (wrist), although the latter could return Monday. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot had been filling in admirably with an average of 16 points on 57.7 percent shooting in his first three of his five straight starts, but the second-year pro has tailed off in the last two contests and shot 2-for-10 in 33 minutes Sunday. Rookie Ben Simmons is averaging 20.7 points, 9.3 assists and 8.7 rebounds over a three-game stretch.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (26-22): Khris Middleton recorded his first career triple-double at Philadelphia earlier this month in Kidd's last game with the team and he has not missed a beat since the change, averaging 25.3 points on 63.8 percent shooting. He, too, has seen a more relaxed vibe under interim coach Joe Prunty leading to better flow on the offensive end of the floor. "Right now, you can tell guys are a little bit looser," Middleton told reporters Sunday. "With Joe, he preaches confidence. His plays are designed for us to move the ball side to side more. And just, not necessarily playing off one matchup, but just trying to use the matchup as a decoy to get other guys shots."76ers are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss.
76ers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Pick . Philladelfia +6