Milwaukee Bucks

Middleton, Bucks starters shooting well from the field

Published Jan. 12, 2018 4:48 p.m. ET

Starters on the Milwaukee Bucks, including the “Marquee Three” -- Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and Giannis Antetokounmpo -- have been exceptional from 2-point range.

Milwaukee’s starting five combines to rank second in the NBA with a 50.5 percent clip from the field, just behind the Pelicans (50.6 percent).

Middleton has sunk 161 of his 320 2-point jumper attempts, good for the league lead at 50.3 percent. He’s a few notches better this season than two defending champions – Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, who visit the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Friday evening with their Golden State Warriors.

NBA, Highest FG Pct on 2-Pt Jump Shots - 2017-18

Khris Middleton, Mil	.503 (161/320)
Kevin Durant, GS	.500 (141/282)
Evan Turner, Por	.476
Kyrie Irving, Bos	.469
Klay Thompson, GS	.466 (130/279)

If the Bucks want to knock off Golden State -- which will be without star guard Steph Curry, by the way – Milwaukee will need to dominate the paint. Good news there, as Antetokounmpo is scoring 16.5 points per game down low, which leads the NBA and is the highest average the league has seen since 2008-09.

All these numbers are impressive, but Milwaukee’s biggest task Friday will be halting Golden State’s offense that is lethal, even without Curry, and tops the league with a 113.0 offensive rating.

The Bucks hope they have a little magic left from their last win over the Warriors -- the victory in December 2015 that snapped Golden State’s perfect 24-0 record.

NOTABLE

-- The Bucks have lost seven of their last eight matchups with the Warriors, with the single victory being that streak-snapping win in 2015.

-- Warriors forward Kevin Durant scored his 20,000 career point Tuesday, becoming the 44th player to reach the milestone in NBA history and the second-youngest player to do so, behind LeBron James.

-- The Bucks are 12-5 against the Western Conference this season and have won their last six home matchups against non-conference foes.

Statistics courtesy STATS