Suns Look to Bounce Back Against Struggling Bucks

Phoenix returns home after tough road trip, while Milwaukee hopes to regroup without Giannis Antetokounmpo

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:03pm

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The Phoenix Suns are looking to end their four-game losing streak as they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. The Suns just wrapped up a tough six-game road trip, going 2-4, while the Bucks have lost 10 of their last 12 games and are playing without star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a knee injury.

Why it matters

This game is important for both teams as they try to improve their playoff positioning. The Suns are currently seventh in the Western Conference standings, while the Bucks are 7.5 games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final play-in spot in the East. A win could help either team gain some momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

The details

The Suns are coming off a tough 101-100 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, with rookie Victor Wembanyama hitting the game-winning shot. Meanwhile, the Bucks are reeling from a 128-96 blowout loss to the Utah Jazz, with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined due to a knee injury. Milwaukee is reportedly considering shutting down Antetokounmpo for the rest of the season, but the two-time MVP would prefer to return if possible.

  • The Suns just wrapped up a six-game road trip on Thursday.
  • The Bucks are coming off a loss to the Jazz on Thursday.
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo will be re-evaluated next week for his knee injury.

The players

Jordan Ott

Head coach of the Phoenix Suns.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Star forward for the Milwaukee Bucks who is currently sidelined with a knee injury.

Doc Rivers

Head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Bobby Portis Jr.

Forward for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Collin Gillespie

Guard for the Phoenix Suns who scored 24 points in the loss to the Spurs.

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What they’re saying

“How could we not be proud of that group? Six-game road trip. Tough games every single night. Bodies down. Young guys getting playing time there at the end of the game. We're going to be better for it. Super proud.”

— Jordan Ott, Head coach, Phoenix Suns

“I'm not overdoing one game, honestly. I thought we played great against Cleveland. We competed against Atlanta. So I'm not going to overdo this game. But, this was the game you really wanted to win on this road trip. They took out everybody to help us, you know? And we still didn't take advantage of it.”

— Doc Rivers, Head coach, Milwaukee Bucks

“Obviously, (Thursday) was super disappointing and you never want to lose a game like that, right? We play every other day the rest of the year, so there's plenty of opportunities to go out there and keep guys locked in and keep building. It's been an up-and-down year, a lot going on, but I'm in the fight though, so I ain't laying down.”

— Bobby Portis Jr., Forward, Milwaukee Bucks

“It hurt. All the losses right now hurt bad, but I still like our fight, how we competed. Still in these games. We've just got to find a way.”

— Jordan Goodwin, Guard, Phoenix Suns

What’s next

The Suns will continue to monitor the status of several injured players, including Royce O'Neale, Grayson Allen, and Amir Coffey, ahead of the game against the Bucks. Milwaukee will hope to get Giannis Antetokounmpo back on the court soon, but his return timeline remains uncertain.

The takeaway

This game represents an important opportunity for both the Suns and Bucks to gain ground in the playoff race. Phoenix will be looking to end its recent skid and regain its form, while Milwaukee hopes to regroup without its star player. The outcome of this matchup could have significant implications for the postseason aspirations of both teams.