NBA Power Rankings: Here comes the trade deadline

The Bucks picked up their fourth straight win since firing Jason Kidd with a 107-95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. While it seemed like their odds of being an impact team in the playoffs was slipping away in Kidd’s final weeks, they’ve turned things around by beating the teams they’re supposed to beat, and having Giannis Antetokounmpo attempting more 3-pointers. Giannis had 31 and 18 against the 76ers, who were without Joel Embiid due to rest.

The Bucks feel-good stretch ended against Jimmy Butler and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Milwaukee struggled to score against the Timberwolves defense, shooting just 37 percent from the floor in a 108-89 loss. Giannis and Khris Middleton combined to shoot 13-for-34 from the floor, and the team had just six 3-pointers on 29 attempts. Malcolm Brogdon injured his left leg in the second quarter, an injury that was later diagnosed as an injury to a quad tendon that will sideline him for six to eight weeks. While Brogdon will be out of the lineup, Jabari Parker returned against the Knicks on Friday, and Giannis flipped in the game-winning layup to give them a 92-90 win on their home court. Parker had 12 points in 15 minutes, with the coaching staff easing him back into game action. Eric Bledsoe stepped up against the Nets on Sunday, with 28 points in a 109-94 victory.

They’ll be crossing their fingers that a Giannis’ sprained ankle isn’t anything serious, and they’ll kick off next week with a road game at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks for their second matchup in five days.