Clippers @ Bucks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Clippers (37-40)

@ Milwaukee Bucks (48-28)

Current odds:

Los Angeles Clippers: (+137)

Milwaukee Bucks: (-164)

• The line for this game is Bucks by 3.5 points.

• The Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers will be lacking serious firepower on Friday night when they meet in Milwaukee. The Bucks announced on Friday afternoon that two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (right knee soreness), Khris Middleton (left wrist soreness), Jrue Holiday (left ankle sprain) and Brook Lopez (rest) have been ruled out for the game.

• Paul George (elbow), Reggie Jackson (rest), Nicolas Batum (ankle) and Marcus Morris Sr. (knee) will be sidelined for the Clippers.

• Antetokounmpo became Milwaukee’s all-time points leader after scoring 44 on 14-of-21 shooting in the Bucks’ 120-119 overtime victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday in New York. He added 14 rebounds and six assists. Holiday added 19 points, eight rebounds and six steals for Milwaukee, and Middleton chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds.

• The Bucks trailed by nine with 3:52 remaining in regulation, but they were able to force overtime thanks to Antetokounmpo’s game-tying 3-pointer with 18.7 seconds left. In OT, Antetokounmpo sank a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining to give Milwaukee a one-point edge before Kevin Durant missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.

• March was kind to the Bucks, as they went 11-3. They have won four of their past five and also have rattled off six consecutive wins at home.

• Conversely, the Clippers have been sliding lately. They have dropped six of their past seven games after falling 135-130 to the host Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

• Los Angeles led by seven with just under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but DeMar DeRozan took over, scoring nine points in the final 1:36 to tie things up by the end of regulation. He then scored 10 points in overtime to finish with 50 on the night, handing the Clippers their fourth straight road loss.

• The Clippers’ Jackson finished with a team-high 34 points on 12-of-23 shooting, including a 6-of-9 performance from 3-point range, and added seven assists. George supplied 22 points, Morris had 20 and Batum notched 17 as all five starters scored in double figures.

• Los Angeles had just welcomed back George on Tuesday. He had been sidelined since late December due to an elbow injury. George’s play has been one of the few bright spots for the Clippers, as the seven-time All-Star is averaging 28 points and 5.5 assists in his two games since making his return.

• Los Angeles also will be without Norman Powell, who could resume practice next week after sustaining a foot injury. Kawhi Leonard (knee) also has not yet been cleared to take contact, and Brandon Boston Jr. will miss the Milwaukee game because of an illness.

• Friday marks the second and final meeting between the Clippers and the Bucks this season. Milwaukee came away with a 137-113 road win back on Feb. 6, behind 28 points from Antetokounmpo and 27 from Holiday.