If you're checking the schedule to see who are the Bucks playing tonight, you might be a little surprised to find the court at Fiserv Forum is actually quiet. Today is Sunday, January 18, 2026, and Milwaukee is currently in the middle of a much-needed breather before they head down to Georgia.
They don't play tonight.
Honestly, after the week they’ve had, a night off might be the best thing for Doc Rivers and his squad. The Bucks are officially scheduled to face the Atlanta Hawks tomorrow, Monday, January 19, for a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee. It’s a 1:00 PM ET tip-off at State Farm Arena, and if you’ve been following this team lately, you know the vibes are... well, they're complicated.
Why the Bucks Schedule Matters Right Now
Milwaukee is sitting in a spot nobody expected back in October. They’re 17-24. That puts them in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. 11th! For a team with Giannis Antetokounmpo, that feels like a typo, but it’s the reality of a season that has felt like uphill sledding in the mud.
💡 You might also like: Virginia High Bearcats Football: Why the Tradition in Bristol Just Hits Different
They are currently riding a three-game losing streak. It hasn't just been losing; it's how they've lost. They got dismantled by the Timberwolves 139-106 and then took a 119-101 beating from the Spurs on Thursday. When you're losing by double digits to teams you should be competing with for seeding, people start to get twitchy.
Tomorrow’s game against Atlanta isn't just another game on the calendar. It’s a "get right" game against a Hawks team that is also struggling. Atlanta is 20-24, just a game and a half ahead of Milwaukee for that final play-in spot. Basically, it's a battle for survival in the bottom half of the East.
The Giannis Factor and the New-Look Roster
Giannis is still doing Giannis things, averaging about 28.8 points and nearly 10 boards, but the supporting cast looks drastically different than the 2021 championship run. Damian Lillard is gone (that dead money hit on the cap is a hefty $22 million this year), and the team has pivoted to a mix of veterans like Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner.
Turner has been a solid rim protector, but the chemistry hasn't quite bubbled over into wins yet. And Kuzma? He’s been dealing with an illness lately, which hasn't helped the offensive flow. You've also got Bobby Portis still providing that spark off the bench, but even his energy hasn't been enough to stop the defensive bleeding.
Scouting the Matchup: Bucks @ Hawks
When the ball finally tips on Monday, keep an eye on these specific dynamics:
👉 See also: Winners of the EPL: What Most People Get Wrong
- The Point Guard Battle: With the Hawks trading Trae Young to Washington earlier this season, they’re leaning on CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. McCollum is still a walking bucket, averaging 17 points since arriving in Atlanta.
- Milwaukee’s Perimeter Defense: This has been the Achilles' heel. The Bucks are allowing opponents to shoot nearly 47% from the field. If they can’t close out on Kispert or McCollum, it’s going to be a long afternoon in Atlanta.
- The Injury Bug: Taurean Prince is out with a neck issue. Giannis has been nursing an ankle, though he’s expected to go. On the Atlanta side, they’re missing Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles), which takes away a massive interior threat that would usually give Myles Turner headaches.
Doc Rivers mentioned recently that it's "too early to panic." He’s right—there’s half a season left. But 11th place is a dangerous neighborhood. You don't want to be checking who are the Bucks playing tonight in April only to realize the answer is "nobody" because they missed the play-in.
What to Expect Next
Since there is no game tonight, use this time to set your notifications for tomorrow's early start. The game will be broadcast on Peacock at 1:00 PM ET.
If you're looking to catch the Bucks back at home, you won't have to wait long after the Atlanta trip. They return to Fiserv Forum on Wednesday, January 21, to host the Oklahoma City Thunder. That’s going to be a massive test against one of the elite teams in the West.
👉 See also: Why Watkins Glen International is Still the Most Intimidating Track in America
For now, the best move is to keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of tomorrow's morning shootaround. If Giannis or Kuzma are surprise scratches, the odds (which currently favor the Hawks by 4.5 points) will shift significantly.
Check the local Milwaukee listings for any late-breaking roster moves, as the trade deadline is approaching and this roster might not look the same in three weeks.