Milwaukee Bucks vs New Orleans Pelicans – Preview & Prediction (Feb. 04, 2026)

Game preview

The Bucks host the Pelicans on Feb. 4 looking very different than a year ago. Milwaukee (19-29) has struggled since losing Giannis Antetokounmpo to injury and sits well outside the Eastern Conference picture. They’ve managed just two wins in their last 10 games, though they did snap a five-game skid with a 131-115 win over Chicago. Ryan Rollins has been one of the few bright spots, putting together a solid individual season amid otherwise disappointing team results.

New Orleans (13-39) has also had a rough year and currently shares the bottom of the Western Conference standings. The Pelicans have flashed promise at times — Trey Murphy III has been a breakout scorer, Zion Williamson has put up good per-game numbers when healthy, and Sadiq Bey and Yeremiah Fears have contributed offensively — but injuries and inconsistent team play have kept them from stringing together sustained success. They come into this game after two straight losses.

Matchup notes, injuries and prediction

Head-to-head, Milwaukee has won four of the last five meetings against New Orleans, so they’ve generally had the upper hand. For injuries, the Bucks are missing Kevin Porter, Taurean Prince and Giannis Antetokounmpo, while Gary Harris and Bobby Portis are listed as questionable. The Pelicans continue to be without Dejounte Murray, and Hunter Dickinson is questionable for this matchup.

With both teams short-handed and showing limited defensive intensity lately, expect a faster-paced game with plenty of possessions and three-point attempts. That profile favors a higher-scoring contest. Tip-off is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. EST on Feb. 4, 2026.

Prediction: Over 222.5 total points — expect an uptempo game and a lot of scoring opportunities on both ends.