Bucks and Admirals match each other in dueling win streaks

In less than 10 minutes, any Wisconsin sports fans could casually walk between the sites of two of the longest active winning streaks in professional American sports.

The NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks enter Wednesday’s home contest with Atlanta riding an eight-game winning streak, while the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals have tallied a franchise-record 10 straight victories.

Let’s start on the hardwood, where the Bucks’ run has launched them back to the top of the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee is still well short of its franchise-record of 20 straight wins (set in 1970-71), but a glance at the upcoming schedule shows the Bucks’ current iteration could give that mark a legitimate run:

• vs. Atlanta (4-13)

• at Cleveland (5-12)

• vs. Charlotte (6-12)

• vs. New York (4-13)

• at Detroit (6-11)

• vs. LA Clippers (13-5)

• vs. Orlando (6-10)

• vs. New Orleans (6-11)

• vs. Cleveland (5-12)

The Clippers trip to the Cream City is the obvious stumbling block, but Milwaukee will be massive favorites in every other game during this home-heavy portion of the season. Avoiding any slippage against an inferior team is easier said than done, though Giannis Antetokounmpo certainly has the ability to carry his team for weeks a time. Antetokounmpo has posted a 33-14-5 stat line during this streak, and is one of the four headliners in what could be an epic MVP race. Only 11 players have ever won consecutive MVP awards, and it’s a who’s who of iconic one-name hoopers: Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Moses, Bird, Magic, Jordan, Duncan, Nash and Steph. Could Giannis be the twelfth man to join that select list? A prolonged winning streak certainly doesn’t hurt his case.

The Admirals, meanwhile, have already made organizational history with 10 straight wins, highlighted by a plus-23 goal differential during that stretch. Milwaukee has raced to a league-best 14-3-1-2 start on the backs of an AHL-high 71 goals. Left winger Daniel Carr leads the way with 11 goals for the Ads, good for a tied-for-sixth in the AHL. On the back end, Milwaukee’s defense has been bolstered by goalie Troy Grosenick, who leads the league in goals against average (2.02 GAA) and is second in save percentage (93.2 percent).

Here’s a look at Milwaukee’s upcoming schedule:

• vs. Manitoba (10-10-0-0)

• at San Antonio (9-6-4-2)

• at Texas (5-13-0-2)

• at Texas (5-13-0-2)

• vs. Iowa (11-5-2-2)

• at Rockford (9-8-0-1)

• at Rockford (9-8-0-1)

• vs. Chicago (8-12-1-0)

• at Chicago (8-12-1-0)

That’s not an overly tough slate, but unlike the NBA – where back-to-back contests against the same team are rare – the AHL’s scheduling pattern means the Admirals will be forced to battle through several matchups where the team is quite comfortable with their tendencies after facing off just 24 hours earlier. Milwaukee also must go through the Iowa Wild, who have been a thorn in the Admirals’ side this year. The Wild are 2-1 against Milwaukee, with the Ads' lone win coming in overtime last week in Des Moines.

Friday, Dec. 6 could be a frenzied sports night in Downtown Milwaukee, when the Clippers and the Wild come to town. At that point, the Bucks and Admirals could be working on a combined 27-game winning streak, piling onto the impressive amount of regular season success for Wisconsin sports teams in recent years.