The Bucks open the regular season Wednesday at the Wizards, then play four more games by October 28. The stretch holds one back-to-back, on October 23 and 24, and a Monday visit from the Pacers.
Last season
Milwaukee went 32-50 and sat out the playoffs. Washington was worse at 17-65, with a net rating of minus-11.8 against Milwaukee's minus-6.1. Ryan Rollins led the Bucks at 17.3 points a game across 74 games, and Tyler Herro averaged 20.5 in 33 appearances. Anthony Davis put up 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds for the Wizards in 20 games. Those numbers belong to rosters that no longer exist in either city.
This preseason
Three exhibitions, two losses and a win. Milwaukee fell 90-105 at Charlotte on October 11 and 104-125 to the Bulls on October 14, a night most of the rotation rested. The regulars returned and edged the Pacers 128-127 on October 16, Herro scoring 25 and Brayden Burries 14. Johni Broome, Jake Stephens, Marcus Garrett and Pete Nance were then let go, Kevin Porter Jr. followed, and Nance came back on a two-way contract.
Wednesday, October 21
The opener in Washington follows four days off for both teams, and it is Milwaukee's second straight road game counting the Indiana exhibition. Brian Keefe's Wizards are without Tristan Vukcevic, AJ Dybantsa and Jamir Watkins. Nate Ament remains day-to-day with his left ankle, and Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the rookie practiced Monday and should be available if his recovery holds. Jericho Sims is also day-to-day.
October 23 and 24
The lone back-to-back of the week. The Bulls visit Fiserv Forum on Friday, nine days after they beat Milwaukee 125-104 in the preseason, and the Bucks then fly to Philadelphia for a Saturday game on NBA TV. Two games in two nights, the second on the road, will test a frontcourt thinned by the cuts. Myles Turner and Kel'el Ware carry the center minutes, with Sims if he is cleared.
October 26 and 28
Indiana comes to Milwaukee on Monday, and that is the game in this stretch that carries the most weight. The Pacers ended the Bucks' seasons in 2024 and 2025, and Turner left them for Milwaukee this summer. The preseason meeting went to the Bucks by a point. The Rockets close the week on Wednesday, October 28, the fifth game in eight days.
When do the Bucks open the 2026-27 season?
Wednesday, October 21, at the Washington Wizards. The home opener follows on October 23 against the Bulls.
Is Nate Ament playing in the opener?
He is listed day-to-day with a left ankle issue and an estimated return of October 21. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported he practiced Monday and should be available if his recovery goes well.
