SPORTS LINE
The Milwaukee Bucks.
A 116-99 home victory against the 3-16 Brooklyn Nets on Saturday helped the Bucks avoid what would have been a brutal eight-game losing streak. Now the Bucks will see if they can build on the positive momentum after their victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 29 in front of a crowd of 16,396 fans who braved the snowy weather to be at Fiserv Forum. After Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a left adductor injury on Nov. 28, Kevin Porter Jr. was next to be back in the Bucks’ lineup. Porter had been out since the first quarter of the first game of the season, beginning with a sprained left ankle suffered on Oct. 22. He suffered a meniscus injury in his knee in a workout on Oct. 30 and had surgery on Nov. 3.
Rivers put Porter in the starting lineup against the Nets in the backcourt with Ryan Rollins. Porter knocked down a 3-pointer for the Bucks’ first basket of the game, and then he sank another one later in the first quarter. Porter’s return now gives the Bucks another ball-handler who can create opportunities along with Rollins and Antetokounmpo. But that doesn’t mean the 9-12 club’s troubles are in the rearview. They really need another big scorer next to nine-time All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s generally not much of a jump shooter beyond the arc. The Bucks’ offense has looked a bit stiff. Antetokounmpo also missed four straight games during Milwaukee’s seven-game skid, and the team looked hapless without him.
Rumor has it that the Bucks are considering a deal for a slightly overpaid three-level scorer stuck on a lottery loser, two-time All-Star Sacramento Kings shooting guard Zach LaVine. The 6-foot-5 UCLA product, also a two-time Slam Dunk champion, is earning a very generous $47.5 million in 2025-26 and boasts a $48.97 million player option for next year. Through 18 games this season, LaVine has been averaging 20.8 points on .493/.380/.866 shooting splits, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists a night.
The Green Bay Packers.
The left ankle injury that Devonte Wyatt sustained in the Green Bay Packers’ win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving will end the defensive tackle’s season, coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. Combine that with the lingering foot injury edge rusher Lukas Van Ness has not been able to come back from, and the Packers’ defensive line has gotten even thinner heading into Sunday’s NFC North battle-for-first-place game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.
Wyatt, a first-round pick in 2022, is under contract through next season because the Packers picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. That is worth $12.938 million for the 2026 season unless the two sides agree to a long-term extension. He became an even more important part of the Packers’ defense when they traded defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the Cowboys as part of the Micah Parsons deal shortly before the regular season. Wyatt had four sacks in 10 games this season and 27 tackles in all, including six for a loss. He missed two games earlier this season because of a knee injury. Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks are expected to be the Packers’ top two defensive tackles going forward, although Brooks missed the last game because of an ankle injury.
The Packers had hoped Van Ness, another first-round pick in 2023, would be back to full strength by now after he missed five games. Van Ness tried to come back Nov. 23 against the Minnesota Vikings, but lasted just six defensive snaps and then was out for last week’s game against the Lions. Van Ness had a walking boot on his right foot on Monday, and there is no timetable for his return yet.
