Milwaukee, WI
Vote in the Brew Hoop Tuesday Tracker: NBA Cup Finals edition
I’ve already written ad nauseam about the NBA Cup in concept and in practice, so I’ll avoid that here and talk about what getting here actually means for this Bucks team. We all know that Milwaukee was pretty much left for dead by the national media after their 2-8 start. Rather than celebrate their return to contention following their 12-3 stretch that followed, the response outside Milwaukee has mostly been just to stop the Giannis trade speculation or takes about the team being cooked. That’s definitely good.
Will tonight’s game, though not counting in the standings, improve their perception around the league even more? A decisive win over the West-leading Thunder probably would do that. It needn’t be wire-to-wire, but they’d have to hold a double-digit lead for most, if not all, of the second half for many to think the Bucks controlled this game.
That’s a tall order against the league’s top defensive unit, who has been near the top of the league for the entire year to this point. So let’s say it’s a W in a close game. I’ll be surprised if Milwaukee is being heralded as “back” or once again regarded as a true title contender by the consensus. A close loss probably won’t change anyone’s opinion of the team, whereas a decisive defeat or blowout will give a lot of fuel to the naysayers.
As long as the margin is within 10 and the game remains close throughout, the outcome of this game probably won’t change many people’s opinions about the Bucks. Maybe we glean some things from how they match up with OKC specifically, but this is a team lacking Chet Holmgren. I don’t necessarily think this game tells us any more about how Milwaukee fares against the current best teams in the league than a matchup with Boston, Cleveland, or New York would. They’re chasing those teams in the standings, after all, so there’s plenty of juice for those games too, just not the same type of juice tonight has.
In this week’s Tuesday Tracker, we get your thoughts on the title game and what it means for your personal perspective on the Bucks. We also revisit two areas of the team where the numbers continue to improve from their early season nadirs: Bobby Portis and the defense.
Poll
Does this 83rd game mean anything to you as a fan?
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0%
Yes, because the winner gets a trophy
(0 votes)
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0%
Yes, because it’s a competitive basketball game
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Poll
How does the Bucks’ performance in the NBA Cup knockout stage impact your outlook for the rest of the season?
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0%
More optimistic that they could win the NBA title
(0 votes)
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0%
More optimistic that they’ll win multiple playoff series, but still won’t win it all
(0 votes)
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0%
No more or less optimistic
(0 votes)
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0%
Less optimistic
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Poll
Do you want the title game to count in the standings?
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0%
Yes, win or lose
(0 votes)
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0%
Only an extra win for the victor and not an extra loss for the loser
(0 votes)
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0%
No, keep it as is
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Poll
Over his last four games, Bobby Portis is averaging 16.0 PPG and 10.5 RPG on .587/.467/.600 shooting. Is he currently in your good graces?
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0%
Yes, and he never left
(0 votes)
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0%
Yes, though he wasn’t until recent games
(0 votes)
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0%
Yes, but he should still be traded this season or in the offseason
(0 votes)
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0%
No, and he should be traded this season
(0 votes)
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0%
No, but he should remain on the team at least through the playoffs
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Poll
The Bucks’ defense ranks 13th in defensive rating (0.1 above league average) per Basketball-Reference and 17th (1.1 below league average) per Cleaning The Glass, which filters out garbage time and heaves. Describe their defense:
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0%
A strong unit that will finish top ten
(0 votes)
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0%
Undoubtedly above average
(0 votes)
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0%
Average or close to it
(0 votes)
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0%
Undoubtedly below average
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Poll
Do you approve of the job Doc Rivers is doing as the Bucks’ head coach?
Poll
Do you approve of the job Jon Horst is doing as the Bucks’ general manager?
Poll
Do you think this Bucks team can win the title as currently constructed?
As always, this poll will be open until midnight Central on Friday, and we’ll post the results later that day. Thanks for voting!
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee fatal shootings Sunday; 2 dead, 1 in custody
Scene near 107th and Wabash, Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee police are investigating two separate fatal shootings that occurred within hours of each other on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 4.
107th and Wabash
What we know:
The first shooting was reported around 2 p.m. near 107th and Wabash, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. A 40-year-old victim suffered gunshot wounds and later died from those injuries.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation, and police are continuing to search for a suspect or suspects.
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64th and Mill
What we know:
A second fatal shooting was reported around 3:40 p.m., near 64th and Mill. Police said a 53-year-old victim was shot and died from their injuries. A suspect is in custody and charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
The shooting remains under active investigation.
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Authorities say the incidents are not related.
MPD tips
What you can do:
Anyone with information related to either shooting is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or via the P3 Tips app.
The Source: Anyone with any information is asked to contact the MPD at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 Tips app.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Sacramento Kings odds, tips and betting trends | January 4, 2026
The Sacramento Kings (8-27) will be trying to stop a four-game losing streak when hosting the Milwaukee Bucks (15-20) on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at Golden 1 Center. It airs at 9 p.m. ET on FDSWI and NBCS-CA.
The Bucks hit the court as 6.5-point favorites against the Kings. The over/under for the game is set at 228.5.
Bucks vs. Kings betting odds
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Sunday at 3:29 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
- Spread: Milwaukee -6.5
- Total: 228.5
- Moneyline: Milwaukee -244, Sacramento +200
Watch this game on Fubo!
Bucks at Kings odds, spread, & more
Prediction
- Pick ATS: Kings (+ 6.5)
- Pick OU:
Over (228.5) - Prediction:
Bucks 116 – Kings 115
Moneyline
- The Bucks have won 56.2% of the games this season when they were the moneyline favorite (9-7).
- Milwaukee has gone 3-3 when playing as a moneyline favorite with odds of -244 or shorter (winning 50%).
- The Bucks have an implied moneyline win probability of 70.9% in this matchup.
- This season, the Kings have been the underdog 32 times and won six, or 18.8%, of those games.
- This season, Sacramento has won five of its 20 games, or 25%, when it is the underdog by at least +200 on the moneyline.
- The implied probability of a win by the Kings based on the moneyline is 33.3%.
Against the spread
- The Bucks average 113.3 points per game, 9.2 fewer points than the 122.5 the Kings allow.
- Milwaukee has a 4-2 record against the spread and a 4-2 record overall when scoring more than 122.5 points.
- When it scores more than 116 points, Sacramento is 9-3 against the spread and 6-6 overall.
- Milwaukee’s record is 9-0 against the spread and 7-2 overall when it allows fewer than 110.6 points.
- The Bucks are at the 26th spot in the NBA’s scoring charts (113.3 PPG), while the Kings allow the 27th-fewest points per game (122.5) in the league.
- The 28th-ranked scoring NBA team (110.6 PPG) is Sacramento, while the Milwaukee squad ranks 14th in the league defensively (116 PPG).
- The Bucks have been out-scored by 96 points this season (2.7 points per game on average), and opponents of the Kings have out-scored them by 414 more points on the year (11.9 per game).
Over/Under
- Milwaukee’s average implied point total this season is 0.3 fewer points than its implied total in Sunday’s game (117.7 implied points on average compared to 118 implied points in this game).
- So far this season, Milwaukee has scored more than 118 points in 10 games.
- The average implied point total on the season for Sacramento (121) is 10 more points than the team’s implied total in this matchup (111).
How to watch Bucks vs. Kings
Watch this game on Fubo!
Milwaukee, WI
60th and Vliet crash, Milwaukee man pronounced dead at the scene
Crash investigation at 60th and Vliet
MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash at 60th and Vliet on Saturday morning.
What we know:
It happened at around 11:50 a.m. The Wauwatosa Police Department said investigators determined an SUV was headed west on Vliet Street when it ran a red light at a “high rate of speed,” collided with another vehicle and then hit a tree.
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A 71-year-old Milwaukee man, who was the driver and sole occupant of the SUV, died at the scene.
The Wauwatosa Fire Department, Milwaukee Fire Department and Milwaukee Police Department assisted with the crash response. At Vliet Street, 60th Street is the municipal boundary between Milwaukee and Wauwatosa.
What we don’t know:
Wauwatosa police said details of the crash remain under investigation. Police did not say whether anyone was in the other vehicle that was struck.
The Wisconsin State Patrol is assisting the Wauwatosa Police Department with the investigation.
The Source: FOX6 News went to the scene of the crash and received information from the Wauwatosa Police Department.
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