Only once in the Steve Kerr era have the Warriors been swept by a team in the regular season. And it wasn't the San Antonio Spurs or Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers or Oklahoma City Thunder, or any of the most logical candidates.
It was the Indiana Pacers, who last season won in Oakland and Indianapolis to sweep the season series.
The Bucks are in position to accomplish the same feat on Friday, when the Warriors conclude their five-game road trip with their only visit to Milwaukee this season.
Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 5:30 p.m. with Warriors Pregame, followed by tipoff from the Fiserv Forum.
The Warriors (17-9) were clobbered by the Bucks, 134-111, on Nov. 8 at Oracle Arena. Stephen Curry sustained a groin strain in the third quarter that caused him to miss 11 games. The Warriors were down by 26 (95-69) when Curry left the game.
The Bucks (16-7) are off to their best start since 1990-91. They have 11 double-digit wins and lead the league in scoring (121.1 points per game), point differential (10.7) and rebounding (50.3). They also drain an NBA-best 14.6 triples per game.
[RELATED: Why DeMarcus Cousins will go to Warriors' G-League in next couple weeks]
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PROJECTED LINEUPS
Warriors
G – Klay Thompson
G – Stephen Curry
F – Andre Iguodala
F – Kevin Durant
C – Kevon Looney
Bucks
G – Malcolm Brogdon
G – Eric Bledsoe
F – Khris Middleton
F – Giannis Antetokounmpo
C – Brook Lopez
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: Forward Draymond Green (right toe sprain) is listed as questionable, and will be a game-time decision. Centers DeMarcus Cousins (left Achilles' tendon surgery rehab) and Damian Jones (L pectoral surgery) are listed as out.
Bucks:Forward Ersan Ilyasova (mild concussion) is listed as probable. Big man John Henson (left wrist surgery) is listed as out, and reportedly is part of a proposed trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Forward Christian Wood is on G-League assignment.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: If Green is available, he likely will start but play restricted minutes at power forward. That would give the Warriors four All-Stars in the starting lineup for the first time since a Nov. 5 win over the Grizzlies. ... If Green remains out, Iguodala likely continues to start at small forward, with Alfonzo McKinnie coming off the bench in a similar role. ... Durant will look to bounce back from the last meeting, when he scored 17 points – the last time he failed to get at least 20. ... Power forward Jonas Jerebko is streaking. He made every shot at Atlanta on Monday and again at Cleveland on Wednesday: 8-of-8 field goals, 3-of-3 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws. ... Milwaukee's length makes it unlikely that guard Quinn Cook will get more than token minutes.. . . No matter who is on the court, the key limiting Milwaukee's transition opportunities. That was a factor in the Bucks scoring 84 points (on 70-percent shooting) in the paint on Nov. 8.
[RELATED: Why Warriors won't rush DeMarcus Cousins; Quinn Cook's fan connection]
Bucks: Though Antetokounmpo is the hub, the Warriors did a decent job of containing him last month, holding him to 24 points (7-of-16 shiitubg) and nine rebounds. Durant is the only legitimate physical matchup and will again be the primary defender. ... Bledsoe was terrific in the last meeting, scoring 26 points (10-of-12 field goals) and finishing plus-30. If the Warriors don't do a much better job defending his strong drives into the paint, they could be in trouble. ... All five starters are willing 3-point shooters, with Brogdon (49.4 percent) and Middleton (41.9) being particularly dangerous. ... The most explosive bench scorers are guard Pat Connaughton and Ilyasova. ... Guard Matthew Dellavedova, a Saint Mary's College product, also part of the proposed trade with the Cavaliers.
