Milwaukee Heads to Charlotte to Close Out Its Preseason Trip…

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 10

Milwaukee visits Charlotte on October 11, the second of two straight true road preseason games, after splitting its last two: a 97-116 loss to Minnesota on October 5 and a 128-126 win at Oklahoma City on October 7. Nate Ament's left ankle, listed since October 7, carries an estimated return of October 11 — the date of tonight's game itself.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

October 5-7

Milwaukee split its last pair of preseason games: a 97-116 loss at home to Minnesota on October 5, with Ryan Rollins scoring 15 and Kel'el Ware putting up 14 points with 12 boards, then a 128-126 win at Oklahoma City on October 7, led by 13 from Jaime Jaquez Jr. and 8 from Myles Turner. Neither result counted toward the season to come.

Tonight, October 11

Milwaukee closes a stretch of two straight true road games in Charlotte, carrying three days of rest against a Hornets team that has had four. Charlotte, under Charles Lee, opens its own season at 0-0 after going 44-38 last year, with a net rating of plus-4.9 and a pace of 97.6. The Bucks return home for their next game.

Last season

Charlotte's returning core produced well last season: Kon Knueppel averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists over 81 games, and Brandon Miller put up 20.2 points a night. Both are now nursing leg injuries — Knueppel's hamstring, Miller's leg — alongside four more Hornets: Coby White's calf, Grant Williams' hamstring, Christian Anderson's ankle and Kylan Boswell's knee.

Last three games

One number worth tracking: Taurean Prince's minutes have climbed by eight a night over Milwaukee's last three games whenever a teammate has been sidelined. The sample is small, but it marks Prince as the first name Taylor Jenkins turns to when the rotation thins, ahead of several younger players still auditioning for minutes this preseason.

Ahead

Milwaukee's preseason closes with three games left: tonight at Charlotte, home against Chicago on October 14, then at Indiana on October 16 — a rematch with the team that ended each of the Bucks' last two playoff runs. The regular season opens October 21 at Washington.

Next Milwaukee hosts the Bulls on October 14, closes the preseason at Indiana on October 16, and opens the regular season at Washington on October 21.

When do the Bucks play the Hornets this preseason?

Milwaukee plays at Charlotte on October 11, 2026, in a preseason game.

Is Nate Ament playing against Charlotte?

Ament has been listed since October 7 with a left ankle injury, and his estimated return date is October 11 — tonight's game.