Milwaukee Bucks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Nets Notes: Demin, Wolf, Porter, Antetokounmpo

November 30th, 2025 at 11:05am CST by Eli Cohen

The Nets have lost four games in a row and hold a record of 3-16 on the season, but there have been some signs for hope — if not for this season, then for the future, writes C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News.

In Friday’s loss to the Sixers, rookie lottery pick Egor Demin shook off a scoreless first half to finish with the best game of his young career. His final stat line was 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks, one steal, and five three-pointers.

“I just think we really needed to flip a switch and find a way,” Demin said. “And for me, it was the moment when I just felt it better, and I found that extra energy in myself… To really find that assertiveness and being decisive and being focused on what I can control and what we can control as a group and keep really following our staples and really trying to reach the goals we put pregame on our game plan and being able to get stops and run the floor.”

Head coach Jordi Fernandez liked what he saw in the second half, but is determined to bring out more consistency in the 6’8″ guard.

“He’s going to have to do that for four quarters and not just to take three attempts in the first [half] and 15 in the second,” Fernandez said. “It doesn’t need to be equal or even, but he just has to find a way.”

Demin missed Saturday’s loss to the Bucks as the team continues to manage his playing time following an offseason left plantar fascia tear.

We have more on the Nets:

During stretches of Brooklyn’s loss to the Bucks, rookie big man Danny Wolf was the best scorer on the court, Holmes writes. Wolf scored 22 points with four assists and five made three-pointers, leading the team in scoring, threes, and minutes despite coming off the bench. It was only the rookie’s second time playing more than three minutes in a game, both of which occurred in the last three days.
Michael Porter Jr. has missed the last two games with lower back tightness. While the Nets haven’t expressed any real concern about the injury, Porter’s history of back issues make any ailment along those lines something to monitor closely, Lewis says. “Obviously, we’re never going to rush him. His health, body, is the No. 1 priority,” Fernandez said. “We’re not concerned. [It’s] tightness, and we’ll see how he feels.”
The Nets’ interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo is a poorly-kept secret, but Saturday’s blowout at the hands of the Bucks only shows how far away they are from being in a position to entice him, Lewis writes in a separate story. Antetokounmpo scored 29 points and eight rebounds in just 19 minutes as the Nets were unable to offer any resistance to his onslaught. The former MVP was rumored to have some interest in the Knicks during the offseason and has made it clear that his top priority is to contend for championships.

Giannis On Slumping Bucks: Put Aside Personal Agendas

November 29th, 2025 at 9:34am CST by Dana Gauruder

The return of Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t cure all of the Bucks’ ills. Milwaukee lost its seventh straight on Friday, falling to the Knicks, 118-109.

Their superstar tried his best to end the slide in his first game back from a groin strain, racking up 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in 28 minutes. After the loss, Antetokounmpo addressed a number of topics, as relayed by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

On the losing streak:

“Nobody should have a personal agenda. Nobody should worry about what they want from themselves. Worry only about winning mentality. Winning mindset. The more we can win the games, the more everything takes care of itself.”

On the need for a team-oriented mentality:

“You cannot worry about one shot or two shots that you miss, which took four seconds out of the game to dictate 47 minutes, 56 seconds of the game. So, we got to get back to that mindset. We got to get into the mindset that we got to compete. We got to get to the mindset that this is not a one-man show, that we have to do it together. We got to move the ball. We got to find open 3s, we got to run. We got to create spacing. Our spacing sometimes, it’s shaky.”

On the Bucks ranking 20th in defensive field goal percentage:

“At the end of the day, you got to come in, do your job, do what you’re paid to do, defend … do the little things. And sometimes, when you worry about doing the little things, all the other things add up. If you’re so concerned about scoring the ball and get yourself going offensively and that doesn’t work for you, now you feel like you cannot do nothing.”

The Bucks are playing the second game of a back-to-back set when they host the Nets on Saturday. Antetokounmpo plans not only to play but to get more court time than he did on Friday.

“I know how the protocol is,” Antetokounmpo said. “I know when you come back with my injury, there’s got to be a minute restriction, no matter what you want to do. It doesn’t matter what kind of game it is. Would I want to play more? Yes. Could I play more? I don’t know. But I know one thing for sure: Tomorrow, I will play more minutes, and I’m going to try to help the team win.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo To Return Friday

November 28th, 2025 at 5:25pm CST by Rory Maher

Perennial All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will return to action on Friday at New York, the Bucks announced (Twitter link).

Antetokounmpo went through a pregame warm-up routine prior to being upgraded to available, notes Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter video link). The Greek superstar was initially listed as questionable for Friday’s contest.

The 30-year-old has missed the past four games — and most of a fifth — after experiencing a left adductor (groin) strain on November 17 at Cleveland. Milwaukee lost all five games without its best player and has dropped six straight overall.

Obviously, having Antetokounmpo back is great news for the Bucks, who are currently 8-11, the No. 11 seed in the East. The 2021 Finals MVP has put up fantastic numbers again in 2025/26, averaging 31.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.2 blocks in 13 games (31.8 minutes per contest).

In other Bucks news, head coach Doc Rivers recently discussed slumping guard Cole Anthony, Nehm tweets. In his first nine games (20.4 MPG) with Milwaukee, the free agent addition averaged 11.2 PPG, 5.2 APG (1.9 TOV) and 3.3 RPG with a shooting line of .494/.323/.538; over the past nine (17.2 MPG), the 25-year-old has put up 5.4 PPG, 4.4 APG (2.9 TOV) and 3.2 RPG on .314/.125/.750 shooting.

“He’s struggling right now and we have to do something to help him,” Rivers said after Anthony went 0-for-7 with two turnovers in 11 minutes during Wednesday’s loss in Miami. “He’s turning the ball over and taking some really rough shots for us. We just gotta keep coaching him.

“The kid can play. We gotta keep believing in him. He gets down on himself, probably too much, which leads to the next error. So, we gotta find the right happy medium to get him to be able to play through mistakes.”

Siegel’s Latest: DeRozan, Sabonis, Wolves, Claxton, Kuminga, Wiggins

November 28th, 2025 at 12:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Of the three Kings veteran stars considered in-season trade candidates, DeMar DeRozan looks like the one most likely to be on the move ahead of the February 5 deadline, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

As Siegel explains, DeRozan’s relatively team-friendly contract structure – $24.6MM this season and a $10MM partial guarantee on his $25.7MM salary for 2026/27 – makes him a more manageable investment for most clubs than either Zach LaVine or Domantas Sabonis. LaVine is earning $47.5MM this season, with a $49MM player option for ’26/27, while Sabonis will be owed $94MM over the next two seasons after making $42.3MM in ’25/26.

The Bucks, Clippers, Heat, Trail Blazers, and Grizzlies are some of the potential suitors to watch for DeRozan, says Siegel, though he doesn’t explicitly state that all those clubs have shown interest in the veteran forward.

Sabonis, who is currently on the shelf with a meniscus tear, will likely have to show he’s healthy before drawing real interest on the trade market. According to Siegel, the Sacramento big man isn’t expected to begin the return-to-play portion of his recovery process until sometime around Christmas.

Here are a few more rumors from around the NBA, courtesy of Siegel:

There’s a “growing sense” that the Timberwolves would be willing to sell high on forward Julius Randle in the right deal this season, Siegel writes. Minnesota is known to be on the lookout for a point guard, having checked in on Ja Morant. The team has also inquired about Cavaliers guard Darius Garland for the past year-plus, sources tell Siegel. However, the Wolves’ lack of tradable first-round picks will be complicate their ability to make any major moves.
Nets center Nic Claxton is considered a trade candidate and has come up in discussions with sources around the NBA as a possible Warriors target, Siegel writes. However, given that the Nets showed no interest in pursuing Jonathan Kuminga using their cap room when he was a restricted free agent over the summer, it doesn’t appear the fifth-year forward would be a target for Brooklyn. Claxton has also been considered a potential Lakers target dating back to last season, Siegel notes.
The Pacers are among the teams that have been keeping an eye on Kuminga, having “quietly” scouted him since the start of last season, according to Siegel, who wonders if the Warriors would have any interest in a deal involving Bennedict Mathurin. There’s a sense around the league that Indiana might look to move a player like Mathurin, Jarace Walker, or Obi Toppin due in part to the club’s cap situation going forward, Siegel adds.
The Warriors are known to have interest in forwards Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones and will likely talk to the Pelicans during the season, Siegel writes. It’s unclear if New Orleans would be open to moving either Murphy or Jones, but they represent the sort of “versatile wings” that Golden State will likely be targeting in a Kuminga trade, Siegel explains.
If the Heat were to trade Andrew Wiggins this season, they’d be seeking a first-round pick, plus a player or two who could step into their rotation and be a positive contributor, per Siegel. The Lakers were linked to Wiggins during the offseason and the Bucks also inquired about him, Siegel reports, but Miami hasn’t had any serious trade talks about the veteran forward as of late.

Injury Notes: Giannis, AD, Bulls, Sixers

November 27th, 2025 at 6:56pm CST by Rory Maher

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been listed as questionable for Friday’s game in New York, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Antetokounmpo is dealing with a strained left adductor, which is part of the groin.

The two-time MVP has missed the past four games — and most of a fifth — after suffering the injury on November 17 at Cleveland. Milwaukee lost all five games without its best player and has dropped six straight overall.

Antetokounmpo, who turns 31 years old on Dec. 6, was also considered questionable for Wednesday’s game in Miami before being ruled out. Head coach Doc Rivers said the nine-time All-NBA forward hasn’t experienced a setback, according to Nehm (Twitter link).

“No,” Rivers said. “I was not in favor (of him playing Wednesday). I was very happy we decided what we decided. I was very uncomfortable with it. He really wanted to push and that’s who Giannis is. I was very happy with our medical team today. They decided at the end of the day, let’s wait. … We just thought it was the right thing to do. We gotta protect him sometimes.”

We have more injury updates from around the NBA:

As expected, Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis is questionable for Friday’s matchup at the Lakers, as Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal relays (via Twitter). The star big man has missed the past 14 games with a left calf strain. Davis, who practiced on Wednesday, said it was “surprising” and “definitely tough” to see former head of basketball operations Nico Harrison get fired, but downplayed the trade chatter surrounding him in the wake of Harrison’s dismissal. “This is basketball,” Davis said, per Christian Clark of The Athletic. “This is what comes with it. I think everybody in their career has been involved in trade talks. Been traded. Or some type of move. That doesn’t affect me. I’ve been in trade talks for a while. My job is to do what I do on the floor. Play basketball. Try to lead this team. I do have an open line of communication with the front office. I’m just ready to get back on the floor.”
The Bulls have a lengthy injury report ahead of Friday’s contest in Charlotte, notes Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (Twitter link). Kevin Huerter (left pelvic contusion), Dalen Terry (left calf strain), Nikola Vucevic (right patellofemoral syndrome), Coby White (right calf strain injury management), and Patrick Williams (left wrist sprain) are all questionable, while Isaac Okoro is doubtful to suit up because of left lumbar radiculopathy.
In addition to Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford, who are sidelined with knee and adductor injuries, respectively, Sixers center Joel Embiid has been ruled out of his ninth consecutive game on Friday against Brooklyn due to right knee injury management (Twitter link via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer). Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe (left calf tightness) is also out for the third straight game, while forward Paul George is questionable with a right ankle sprain. George was inactive for Tuesday’s 41-point loss to Orlando, though he did practice on Wednesday.

Six NBA Cup Quarterfinal Spots Up For Grabs On Friday

November 27th, 2025 at 11:54am CST by Luke Adams

After the NBA takes Thanksgiving off on Thursday, the final group stage games of this year’s NBA Cup take place on Friday, with 22 teams in action (eight teams have already wrapped up their four-game schedules).

Although 49 of the 60 group stage contests have been played so far, we still only know two of the eight clubs that will advance to the knockout round of the in-season tournament — the Raptors have clinched Eastern Conference Group A, while the Lakers have locked up Western Conference Group B.

That leaves six quarterfinal spots up for grabs on Friday, with 12 teams still in the running for them. Here’s a breakdown of how those 12 teams can qualify for the knockout round:

(Note: The first two tiebreakers for teams with the same records are head-to-head results and point differential).

Eastern Conference Group A

Although Toronto has secured its spot atop this group, the Cavaliers (2-1 record, +33 point differential) remain in the hunt for the East’s wild card berth. The Cavs will play in Atlanta on Friday and would be pretty well positioned for that wild card spot if they can pick up a win — especially if they blow out the Hawks in the process and their point differential continues to grow.

Eastern Conference Group B

The Magic (3-0, +61) will visit the Pistons (2-1, +24) on Friday, with the winner of that game claiming Group B. Wild card hopefuls from other Eastern Conference groups will be rooting for Orlando, since the Magic would still be in great shape for a wild card spot with a loss in Detroit — as long as they don’t lose by a ton.

Eastern Conference Group C

Three teams are still alive in Group C, with the Knicks (2-1, +26) and Bucks (2-1, +13) both vying to become the first team to make the quarterfinals in three consecutive NBA Cups. The Heat (3-1, +49) currently sit atop the group though and would win it if Milwaukee beats New York on Friday, since the Heat hold the tiebreaker over the Bucks. The Knicks beat the Heat earlier in group play, however, so a win over Milwaukee would give New York the top spot in Group C.
While the Bucks technically still have a path to the East’s wild card spot, their modest point differential will make it an uphill battle. Milwaukee would need a win in New York and might need both Cleveland and Detroit to lose too.

Western Conference Group A

The Thunder (3-0, +71) will host the Suns (3-0, +35) on Friday, with the winner of that game clinching West Group A. Given the two teams’ strong point differentials, it’s very possible the loser of this game will be the West’s wild card team, though a lopsided loss would hurt Phoenix’s chances. That +71 mark gives Oklahoma City far more breathing room, so it would be a shock if the defending champs don’t advance.

Western Conference Group B

The Lakers have clinched this group, but the Grizzlies (2-1, +9) and Clippers (2-1, -15) haven’t been eliminated from wild card contention yet. They’ll face one another in L.A. on Friday and the winner will finish group play with a 3-1 record. Still, that team could be hard-pressed to surpass the loser of the OKC/Phoenix showdown in overall point differential, so it’s very possible neither the Grizzlies nor the Clippers advance.

Western Conference Group C

The equation is simple in West Group C, where the Spurs (2-1, +23) are visiting the Nuggets (2-1, +26) with the group crown on the line. The winner of that game will make the quarterfinals, while the loser will be eliminated.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Still Sidelined; Kevin Porter Jr. To Practice With G League Team

November 26th, 2025 at 8:36pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bucks were hoping to have Giannis Antetokounmpo back in time for tonight’s NBA Cup contest in Miami, but the team announced shortly before tip-off that he’s missing a fourth straight game with a low-grade groin strain. He was listed as questionable heading into the game.
The Bucks assigned Kevin Porter Jr. to their G League affiliate as he continues to work his way back from meniscus surgery. The Wisconsin Herd don’t play again until Sunday, so he’ll likely just be practicing with the team, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Bucks Keeping Eye On Zach LaVine

November 26th, 2025 at 9:43am CST by Luke Adams

The Bucks have conducted “background due diligence” on Kings guard Zach LaVine, among other potential trade targets, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Even after winning their past two games, the Kings are just 5-13 so far this season, so the expectation is that they’ll seriously consider the possibility of moving some of their veterans – most notably LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, but possibly Domantas Sabonis too – before February’s trade deadline.

The Bucks, meanwhile, are well positioned to take on some salary in a trade after dipping below the cap over the summer to sign Myles Turner. They’re currently operating about $11.5MM below the luxury tax line after having been a taxpayer for several years in a row.

Still, Scotto’s wording suggests LaVine is one of many possible trade targets the Bucks have considered, rather than a player they’re specifically targeting. LaVine’s $47.5MM salary would make it difficult for Milwaukee to accommodate him, given the team’s relative lack of expendable mid-sized contracts.

Kyle Kuzma ($22.4MM) is the Bucks’ most obvious trade chip in any deal for an impact player, and Scotto notes that the veteran forward has been a Kings target in the past, though it’s unclear if Sacramento’s new front office is as fond of him as Monte McNair‘s group was. Kuzma and Kings owner Vivek Ranadive are also both among the investors in Major League Volleyball, a new women’s professional sports venture, Scotto notes.

The Bucks would almost certainly have to give up at least two additional players along with Kuzma, including one more valuable role player – likely Bobby Portis ($13.4MM) – in order to match LaVine’s salary. That may not appeal to Milwaukee’s front office, which could end up focusing on trade targets who have slightly more manageable cap hits.

According to Scotto, the Bucks also monitored Boston guard Anfernee Simons during the offseason, as the Celtics and the Nets discussed multiple trade scenarios involving Simons that ultimately didn’t gain serious traction. Simons’ $27.7MM cap hit is a little more team-friendly, and he’s on an expiring contract, whereas LaVine holds a $49MM player option for next season, though Simons’ career scoring and shooting numbers have lagged behind LaVine’s.

So far this season, LaVine is averaging 20.5 points per game with a .498/.386/.893 shooting line through 16 starts (33.5 MPG), while Simons is scoring 14.4 PPG on .448/.411/.862 shooting in 17 outings off the bench (24.9 MPG). Neither player is considered a strong defender.

As Scotto reports, while the Celtics are prepared to pay a luxury tax bill this season if necessary, they wouldn’t mind trying to get out of tax territory if the right deal emerges. Given that Boston is still over the tax line by about $12MM, a deal involving Simons could be the most logical path to ducking the tax, but the club hasn’t shown any willingness to attach a first-round pick to move off of him, league sources tell HoopsHype.

Lakers Become Second Team To Secure Spot In NBA Cup Quarterfinals

November 26th, 2025 at 7:39am CST by Luke Adams

With their 135-118 win over the rival Clippers on Tuesday, the Lakers moved to 3-0 in NBA Cup group play and clinched their spot atop Western Conference Group B. They’re the second team to secure a place in the knockout round, joining the Raptors.

As Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group writes, the Lakers’ “big three” propelled the team to victory on Tuesday. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James combined for an impressive 99 points, 24 rebounds, and 22 assists, with Doncic (43 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds) leading the way.

The Lakers have one more round-robin NBA Cup matchup this Friday, against Dallas, but the 1-2 Mavericks can’t catch them in the group standings, and neither can the 1-1 Grizzlies or 0-3 Pelicans. The Clippers dropped to 2-1 in NBA Cup group play as a result of Tuesday’s loss, which gave the Lakers the tiebreaker edge.

The Lakers would be assured of hosting their quarterfinal game if they defeat the Mavs on Friday.

The final NBA Cup group play contests will take place on Wednesday and Friday, with six quarterfinal spots still up for grabs — three in each conference. Here are a few details on the races for those spots:

The Thunder (2-0), Suns (2-0), and Timberwolves (2-1) are battling for Western Conference Group A, with Oklahoma City set to host the Wolves on Wednesday and the Suns on Friday. A win in Sacramento on Wednesday would put the Suns in good position to advance to the knockout round even if they fall to OKC on Friday.
The Trail Blazers are below .500 on the season but are in the driver’s seat in West Group C — they’re 2-1 in group play so far and can win the group with a victory over the Spurs (1-1) on Wednesday. If San Antonio wins that game, the Spurs would face the 2-1 Nuggets on Friday with the Group C crown on the line.
In the East, the Magic (3-0) and Pistons (2-0) are vying for control of Group B and will face each other on Friday. Detroit would win the group with a victory over Orlando, even if the Pistons drop Wednesday’s game to Boston.
In Eastern Conference Group C, the 2-0 Bucks and 1-1 Knicks are each looking to become the first team to make the NBA Cup knockout round in three straight seasons, but the 2-1 Heat are in the mix too. Milwaukee will visit Miami on Wednesday and New York on Friday, and there’s a chance that superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will be back for those games.

Central Notes: Giannis, Walker, Bulls, Mobley

November 25th, 2025 at 10:44am CST by Luke Adams

Tuesday marks one week since word broke that Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had been diagnosed with a low-grade groin strain that was expected to sideline him for a week or two. Milwaukee has struggled mightily without its leading scorer and rebounder, dropping four consecutive games since Antetokounmpo went down, including a home loss on Monday to a banged-up Portland team.

While no target date has been reported for Giannis’ return yet, he was on the court getting some shots up prior to Monday’s game, and he’ll travel with the team on its two-game road trip to Miami (Wednesday) and New York (Friday), according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter links).

Head coach Doc Rivers made it clear he’s not necessarily counting on Antetokounmpo to play in either of those road games against conference rivals this week, but he did say he thinks that both Giannis and Kevin Porter Jr. are getting close, Nehm adds (Twitter link). Last week’s update on Porter, who is recovering from meniscus surgery, suggested that the Bucks guard is trending toward an early December return.

[UPDATE: Antetokounmpo has been listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game.]

We have a few more notes from around the Central Division:

Former Pacers lottery pick Jarace Walker got off to a very slow start this season, making just 30.7% of his field goal attempts through 16 games and he took an increased role on the rotation. But Walker scored a career-high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting vs. Detroit on Monday, prompting Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star (subscription required) to wonder if it could be a breakthrough game for the third-year forward. Dopirak also takes a look at the role veteran forward Pascal Siakam has played in mentoring his younger teammate. “I told him after the game, I think I can count the number of dribbles he had,” Siakam said on Monday. “He just kept the game simple. Make the right play. If you’re open, let it fly. If you don’t have it, keep moving it. If you make the decision to drive, drive strong. Finish. If you don’t have it, pass it.”
After watching his team give up a combined 263 points to Washington and New Orleans in the past two games, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said that everyone needs to step up and contribute more to the defensive effort, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (Twitter video link). “Our team, outside of maybe Isaac Okoro, we don’t have one guy on the team right now that you would sit there and say, ‘This guy’s a defensive stopper. This is what this guy hangs his hat on,'” Donovan said. “We don’t have that. So we have to do it collectively. It’s not one guy’s fault, it’s all of us. It’s the coaches, the players. … It’s a team issue, it’s not an individual issue.”
Evan Mobley is the NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, but he hasn’t yet turned into the sort of dominant offensive player the Cavaliers have long hoped he can become, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required). In the wake of a disappointing Monday performance in which Mobley attempted just seven shots, Fedor considers whether two-way superstardom is still in the cards for the former No. 3 overall pick and whether it’s realistic for the Cavs to expect more from him.