Wizards vs. Bucks preview: Washington looks to gain ground in the East as they head to Milwaukee

Game Info

When: Friday, December 23rd at 8:00 pm ET
Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WI
TV: CSN Mid-Atlantic
Radio: 1500 AM and the Wizards Radio App

Injury Report

Wizards: Ian Mahinmi (Out, Knee), Danuel House (Out, Wrist), Otto Porter (Questionable, Back),
Bucks: Khris Middleton (Out, Hamstring), Michael Beasley (Questionable, Foot)

What to Watch For

Can Washington make a big move up the standings?

The Wizards (13-15) come into Friday’s game half a game behind the Bucks (13-14) for the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. If Washington wins, they’ll move ahead of Milwaukee and have a chance to claim the tiebreaker over them when they face again on Monday.

The fun doesn’t stop there. If Atlanta loses on the road in Denver, and the Bulls lose on the road in Charlotte, the Wizards could move up into a tie for 7th by the end of the night.

Can the small lineup wreak havoc again?

The Bucks were one of the first teams Scott Brooks unleashed the Wall-Beal-Oubre-Porter-Gortat lineup against this season. In that game, the Wizards outscored the Bucks 22-8 in just 8 minutes of action together. But keep in mind, Washington was well-rested and playing at home against the Bucks, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back. Now things are reversed. We’ll see if the lineup can still be effective with the Wizards on the final game of their road trip against the Bucks, who are eager to get back on track after two close losses to the Cavaliers.

Most Likely Wizards Killer: Mirza Teletovic

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Teletovic has scored 49 points in 58 minutes over the last two games he’s played against Washington. Don’t leave him open.