Milwaukee Bucks

Bucks piling up points against Western Conference foes

Published Feb. 27, 2019 3:35 p.m. ET

A lot of things have gone the Milwaukee Bucks' way this season. Beating up on Western Conference teams is one of them.

The Bucks are 14-6 against Western clubs this season and are averaging 120.6 points in those games, which is better than their overall average of 117.0 points per game.

Since entering the league -- and Milwaukee was actually in the Western Conference from 1970-71 through 1979-80 -- that's the most points the Bucks have averaged against opponents from that conference. The previous high was 119.8 points per game in 1985-86, followed by 117.0 in 1970-71 and 1980-81 and 114.3 in 1986-87.

In other words, it's been over 30 years since Milwaukee has scored like this against Western Conference teams. And history suggests it should continue Wednesday night in Sacramento. The Bucks have won five straight games over the Kings, averaging 119.6 points in those contests. Way back on Nov. 4 at home the Bucks trounced Sacramento 144-109.

However, this won't necessarily be a cakewalk for Milwaukee this time as the Kings are in the playoff hunt. At 31-29, they are currently in the ninth spot in the West. That record has been bolstered by their play against the East, owning a 14-6 record against those teams. Sacramento also is 9-1 in its last 10 home games, allowing 106.1 points per contest.

Other notes:

-- Brook Lopez has 143 made 3-pointers and Khris Middleton 132. That makes them the fifth Eastern Conference teammates in history to have 130+ 3s in their team's first 60 games. The others: D'Angelo Russell and Joe Harris of this season's Nets, Robert Covington and J.J. Redick on the 2017-18 76ers, Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce of the 2001-02 Celtics and Walt Williams and Damon Stoudamire from the 1996-97 Raptors.

-- Only two other Milwaukee players have reached 130 3s through 60 team games: Ray Allen did it twice, with 147 in 2000-01 and 174 in 2001-02, and Brandon Jennings had 133 in 2012-13.

-- Sacramento's Buddy Hield has a 3-pointer in 25 straight games, the third-longest active streak in the NBA, and is fourth overall in the league with 203 makes.

-- Hield is averaging 14.3 points in his career, third-highest among 2016 draft picks. Milwaukee's Malcolm Brogdon is fifth at 12.7. The top four consists of the overall No. 1, 2, 6 and 7 selections. Brogdon was taken in the second round at No. 36 overall.

Statistics courtesy Sportradar and basketball-reference.com