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The Bucks remain in sixth place in the conference but have
lost two straight and eight of 10 to fall back toward a host of
teams vying for a playoff spot. Their current losing streak has
come against conference leaders Golden State and Atlanta, which
topped Milwaukee 101-88 on Monday. Zaza Pachulia scored 17
points on 8-of-10 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds in the loss
to the Hawks, which marked the fifth time in the 10-game slump
that the Bucks have been held to 90 points or fewer.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE BULLS (45-29): Chicago's three full days off
represents its longest period of rest aside from the All-Star
break in two months, and it offered up a chance for a banged-up
squad to get closer to a return to health. Star guard Derrick
Rose took contact in practice Monday for the first time in his
effort to return from right knee surgery. In addition, the
runaway win against the Knicks - which came after two days off -
allowed coach Tom Thibodeau to rest his starters down the
stretch, with Pau Gasol leading the way with only 28 minutes.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (36-38): Milwaukee is trying to get guard O.J.
Mayo and forward Jared Dudley back to health before the
postseason, if they even get that far, but the mission has
proven difficult. Mayo has managed to shoot 3-of-20 from the
floor in four games since returning from a hamstring injury
while Dudley - who recently missed six games with back issues -
was forced to sit again in the loss to Atlanta. Dudley has
hinted that he will return to take on the Bulls.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bulls PF Nikola Mirotic had a team-high 24 points in the win
over the Knicks and finished March with an average of 20.8 for
the month.
2. Bucks PG Michael Carter-Williams is 8-for-30 from the floor
over his last four games.
3. Gasol has double-doubles in all three meetings with the
Bucks, including a career-high 46 points and 18 rebounds in a
matchup at Chicago on Jan. 10.
PREDICTION: Bulls 98, Bucks 95
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