The Bucks' Preseason Opens Tonight Against a Playoff Roster

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Monday, October 5

Milwaukee's preseason begins tonight against a Minnesota team that won 49 games last season, missing Donte DiVincenzo to a right Achilles injury. Away from tonight's game, the lone roster update since last week is a resolved injury, and the league's inquiry into the Gary Trent Jr. trade remains open with no new word.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Minnesota finished 49-33 last season with a net rating of 3.1, built on Anthony Edwards' 28.8 points a night and Rudy Gobert's 11.5 rebounds. Milwaukee finished 32-50, with a net rating of -6.1 and the league's 26th-ranked defense. The two sides meet tonight from very different starting points, one a playoff roster returning mostly intact, the other still finding its shape under Taylor Jenkins.

Sept. 23

Joe Vardon reported that the NBA had opened an inquiry into Milwaukee's trade for Gary Trent Jr. Nearly two weeks later, no finding, scope, or timeline has surfaced. It is the only front office matter still unresolved heading into preseason play, and it hangs over a roster that otherwise has not changed since camp opened.

Oct. 1

Kevin Porter Jr. was cleared after a stretch listed as day-to-day, with no detail released on the injury itself. He is back with a group that logged 38 games from him last season at 17.4 points and 7.4 assists a night, numbers that led all Bucks guards in playmaking.

Tonight

Milwaukee opens its four-game preseason slate against Minnesota, which is missing Donte DiVincenzo to a right Achilles injury. Edwards remains the Timberwolves' top scoring threat regardless, and Chris Finch's group brings far more continuity into tonight's game than Taylor Jenkins' sideline, which opens the preseason at 0-0 under a first-year coach.

Next Milwaukee's preseason continues Oct. 7 at Oklahoma City, then Oct. 11 at Charlotte and Oct. 14 against Chicago, before the regular-season opener Oct. 21 at Washington.

When do the Bucks play their preseason opener?

Tonight, Oct. 5, against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the first of four preseason games before the Oct. 21 regular-season opener at Washington.

Is Donte DiVincenzo playing for Minnesota tonight?

No. DiVincenzo is out for the Timberwolves with a right Achilles injury and will not play tonight.