Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets regular season game: Full injury report, who's out, where to watch and more (December 29, 2025)

The Milwaukee Bucks visit the Charlotte Hornets on December 29, 2025, at Spectrum Center. Both teams are well below .500, with Milwaukee at 13–19 and Charlotte at 11–20. This game matters because neither side can afford to give one away, especially with the season moving past its midpoint.Availability will decide much of what happens. Giannis Antetokounmpo and LaMelo Ball are expected to lead their teams, but the supporting casts are thin. Rotations are short, and minutes will be heavy for whoever is healthy enough to play.Milwaukee Bucks will be without Alex Antetokounmpo, Pete Nance, Taurean Prince (neck surgery), and Mark Sears. Gary Trent Jr. is questionable with a left calf contusion. If he sits, the Bucks lose one of their more reliable perimeter shooters and another defender they can trust for long stretches.Charlotte’s list is longer. Ryan Kalkbrenner (left elbow sprain), Kon Knueppel (right ankle sprain), Mason Plumlee (right groin strain), Antonio Reeves, KJ Simpson, and Grant Williams (right knee surgery) are all out. Sion James is questionable with an illness. With the frontcourt stripped down, Charlotte will again lean on Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, who both delivered double-doubles in the win over Orlando.Milwaukee Bucks snapped a losing run with a 112-103 win in Chicago on December 27. Antetokounmpo returned from calf trouble and stabilized the offense. Charlotte Hornets followed with a 120-105 win over Orlando on December 26, led by Ball’s 22 points.The Bucks score 112.7 points per game, near the bottom of the league, but they shoot 48.5 percent from the field. Charlotte allows opponents to shoot 48.6 percent, which keeps Milwaukee efficient looks in play. The Hornets rebound well at 44.6 per game, while the Bucks sit near the bottom at 40.5, making second chances a likely swing factor.Tip-off is at 7:00 PM ET from Spectrum Center. The game airs on FanDuel Sports Network Extra (South), FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, and WAXN, with streaming through NBA League Pass and Fubo. Local radio broadcasts are available for both teams.Milwaukee Bucks is favored by 3 to 3.5 points on the road, with the total set at 227.5. The Bucks are slight moneyline favorites, though most public bets lean toward Charlotte. Charlotte’s recent games have trended high-scoring, and Milwaukee has struggled away from home. Expect a close finish. Pick: Bucks by a narrow margin, 117–114, with Charlotte covering if Trent does not play.