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Bucks hope to break out of funk vs. Nets

Mar 20, 2015 - 2:28 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Milwaukee Bucks hope to snap out of their funk when they pay a visit to the Brooklyn Nets Friday at Barclays Center.

The Bucks have lost four in a row and 11 of their last 14 games, including Wednesday's 114-103 setback to the San Antonio Spurs.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ersan Ilyasova scored 19 and 17 points, respectively, and Khris Middleton added 15 for the Bucks, who shot a decent 48.8 percent and allowed the Spurs to make 50 percent from the field. The Bucks did have a 43-34 advantage on the glass, but it wasn't enough.

After a Michael Carter-Williams reverse layup pulled the Bucks within 51-49 at the 3:04 mark of the second quarter, San Antonio ripped off eight straight points for its first double-digit lead of the game.

"They are the world champs, move the ball as well as anyone," Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd said.

The Spurs led 63-54 at the break and were up by as many as 19 in the third before settling for a 91-80 margin heading into the fourth.

Milwaukee is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference - 2 1/2 games ahead of Miami, Indiana and Boston - and looks to stop a nine-game road losing streak Friday night. It is 15-21 on the road and will play the next four games at home versus Cleveland, Miami, Indiana and Golden State.

Meanwhile, the Nets are 2 1/2 games off the eighth spot in the East and suffered a 117-92 loss at Cleveland the last time out on Wednesday.

Deron Williams had 20 points and six assists, while Bojan Bogdanovic added 12 points for Brooklyn, which struggled defending the perimeter and allowed the Cavs to make 15-of-29 3-pointers. Cleveland shot 54.9 percent for the game.

"All these games are huge games for us," Williams said about Brooklyn's postseason hopes. "I hope we realize that."

Jarrett Jack had 11 points for Brooklyn and Brook Lopez, Markel Brown and Mason Plumlee each scored 10.

Brooklyn went 2-2 on its trip and will try to stop a four-game losing streak at Barclays Center, where it has an 11-19 record this season.

The Nets will visit Indiana on Saturday and have lost the first two meetings with Milwaukee this season. The two clubs will square off again April 12 at the Bradley Center.

Bucks coach Jason Kidd was at the helm for the Nets last season.

Milwaukee has won back-to-back games against Brooklyn and had lost the previous five encounters.