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The Milwaukee Bucks have been on a tear lately, riding a five-game winning streak into this matchup against the struggling Washington Wizards. The Bucks' recent surge has them back at .500 on the season with a 9-9 record, a stark contrast to the Wizards' dismal 2-15 start.
Milwaukee's offense has been firing on all cylinders during their hot streak, averaging a blistering 116.6 points over the last five games while shooting a scorching 49.8 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from three-point range. Their ball movement has been crisp with 25.4 assists per game, and they've been relentless on the glass, grabbing nearly 45 rebounds a night.
Defensively, the Bucks have clamped down, holding opponents to just 109 points per game during this winning run. They've been active in the passing lanes with 6.6 steals and protecting the rim with 6 blocks per contest. Milwaukee's balanced attack at both ends has propelled them from .500 to one of the hottest teams in the league.
On the other side, the Wizards limp into this matchup amid a nightmarish 13-game losing streak. Their offense has sputtered, averaging a mere 101.8 points over the last five games on 44.1 percent shooting from the field and a dismal 28.2 percent from deep. Turnovers have plagued them with 15.4 per game, short-circuiting any offensive rhythm.
Defensively, Washington has been hemorrhaging 121 points per game during this brutal stretch. They've struggled to secure defensive rebounds, grabbing just 42.6 boards a night, and have been unable to protect the paint with only 3.8 blocks per contest. Unless the Wizards can quickly right the ship, this losing skid shows no signs of ending against the red-hot Bucks.