Preview: Bucks at Pelicans, Feb. 20, 2026 NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans will meet for the second time this month Friday night at Smoothie King Center, looking to build on recent momentum after a high-scoring affair earlier in February. The Bucks (23-30) arrive after a convincing 110-93 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 12, led by a standout performance from forward Ousmane Dieng. The Pelicans (15-41) are coming off a 123-111 home loss to the Miami Heat on Feb. 11. In the teams’ last meeting on Feb. 4 in Milwaukee, the Bucks outlasted the Pelicans 141-137. That result is part of a 2-2 split for Milwaukee over its last four games, while New Orleans has gone 3-3 in its last six. A key matchup will feature two forwards on strong runs: Milwaukee’s Dieng and New Orleans’ Zion Williamson. Dieng is coming off perhaps his best game of the season, posting 19 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in 36 minutes against Oklahoma City. In his last three games, he averaged 12.7 points and 5.0 rebounds. Williamson has been a consistent force for the struggling Pelicans, scoring in double figures in 10 consecutive games. He averaged 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists over that stretch, including a 25-point effort in the loss to Miami. Williamson had 20 points, five rebounds and eight assists in the narrow loss to Milwaukee earlier this month. Beyond the stars, the Bucks have received recent contributions from Bobby Portis, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds against the Thunder, and Pete Nance. The Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III (19 points vs. Miami) and rookie guard Jeremiah Fears, who notched a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in that game, provide critical support. The game opens a two-game road trip for Milwaukee before returning home Sunday to face Toronto. For New Orleans, it is the second contest of a four-game homestand, with Philadelphia visiting Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at Smoothie King Center.