Two teams fighting for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference will meet Friday night as the New Jersey Nets travel to take on the Milwaukee Bucks. For the Nets, it's the first game they are playing as the visitor in nearly two weeks.
With just 16 games remaining, Avery Johnson's Nets are five games back in the loss column from the eighth seed, but will need to jump four teams. One of those teams is the Bucks, who have dropped three straight. New Jersey, on the other hand, had won five straight before falling to the Chicago Bulls 84-73 on Thursday night in Newark.
Brook Lopez led the Nets against the Bulls with 22 points, while Kris Humphries contributed 13 points, 16 rebounds and a career-high five blocks.
The Bucks lost 93-89 Wednesday night to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic in overtime. Brandon Jennings paced Milwaukee with 23 points and eight assists. John Salmons had 22 and Luc Mbah a Moute and former Net Keyon Dooling each added 10.
Milwaukee was without Andrew Bogut due to a migraine, but he practiced on Thursday and could play.
The Nets have dropped seven in a row against the Bucks, including two games this season by an average of 16.5 points.
Next up for New Jersey is a trip to the nation's capital to take on one of the NBA's worst in the Washington Wizards.