The Milwaukee Bucks will be without center Brook Lopez on Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets.

Lopez is dealing with back soreness.

The Bucks have the best record in the East at 16-3. Lopez, in his second season with Milwaukee, is averaging 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 28.9 percent from beyond the arc and 92.5 percent from the free-throw line.

With Kawhi Leonard leaving the Eastern Conference for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Bucks have a good chance of winning the East in 2019-20. Milwaukee lost to the Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals in six games.

Milwaukee’s core is headlined by reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Eric Bledsoe and George Hill. Milwaukee signed Brook’s brother Robin Lopez in free agency. The team did lose guard Malcolm Brogdon to the Indiana Pacers, but was able to sign Kyle Korver and Wesley Matthews.

Brook re-signed with the Bucks in the summer on a four-year, $52 million deal.

The Hornets are coming off a three-point win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday. Charlotte is 8-12 on the season, eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Bucks should be able to defeat the Hornets despite Lopez being out.