Perhaps by the end of the season, the Nets will be the best team in the Eastern Conference. But right now the Bucks are the superior club.
Milwaukee is 7-1 in its last eight games, averaging 119 points a game during this span. 
James Harden will be playing just his second game as a Net. He played 40 minutes and had a triple-double against the Magic on Saturday. Harden hadn't played in four days prior to that game. We'll see what kind of shape he's in stepping way up in class against the Bucks with his new team. 
The 8-6 Nets aren't expected to have Kyrie Irving for a seventh straight game. The Nets had to trade starting center Jarrett Allen and key reserve Caris LeVert to get Harden. Their center spot is now manned by over-the-hill DeAndre Jordan, who contributes virtually no scoring. 
The Bucks have been the best regular-season team for the past two seasons and they have the best record in the Eastern Conference this season.They average more points than the Nets and give up four fewer points per game than Brooklyn.  
Milwaukee has beaten the Nets eight straight times in Brooklyn.