The hottest team in the East meets the hottest team in the West on Tuesday night at the Toyota Center as the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Houston Rockets.
The Bucks and Rockets (and the San Antonio Spurs too) have won eight out of their last 10 games which is the best “Last 10 games” record in the NBA entering Tuesday’s games. The game will also feature two of the leading MVP candidates in Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Houston’s reigning MVP James Harden.
The Milwaukee Bucks saw their five game winning streak end at the hands of the Toronto Raptors last Saturday as Toronto overcame a herculean effort by the Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Bucks 123-116. Antetokounmpo scored 43 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, each stat one shy of his career high, but it was not enough to beat a more balanced Raptors team.
The Bucks are the highest scoring team in the league right now at 117.6 points per game. Milwaukee is also the top rebounding team in the NBA at 49.4 boards per contest and they are also 5th in passing with 26.5 assists per game. The Bucks defense is allowing 108.0 points per game this season, good for 9th best in the entire league.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Houston Rockets 1/9/19
Moneyline Odds: Bucks -122, Rockets +102
Odds from betonline.ag as of 1/9/19
After a slow start to their season, the Rockets have lifted off and entered Tuesday’s schedule with the 4th best record in the Western Conference, just 3.5 games off the pace of the West leaders Denver Nuggets. At 23-16, the Rockets have also gained a share of the lead in the Southwest Division. Houston has won 12 out of their last 14 games and are unbeaten at the Toyota Center in their last 10 home games.
The Rockets are 17th in scoring at 110.7 points per game. Houston is also the 12th best defensive team as they allow opponents to score 109.1 points per game against them. The Rockets though are 4th from the bottom in rebounds at 42.0 boards per game. They are also third from the bottom in passing with only 21.3 points per game. But don’t let the stats deceive you. Houston is playing the best basketball of any team during the last 15 games.
The Bucks are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played and Milwaukee is 9-7 SU on the road this season. The Rockets are also 8-2 SU in their last 10 games and Houston is 14-5 SU in their 19 home games this season. Head to head, the Rockets are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games against the Bucks.
However, the Bucks are just 9-7 SU on the road while the Rockets are an impressive 14-5 SU at home and have won 10 in a row at the Toyota Center heading to this contest. The Bucks are one of three teams in the Top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency and that’s impressive but remember that in their most recent win, the Rockets easily disposed of the Nuggets who are with Milwaukee in that elite group.
I think this is going to be another playoff type game on Tuesday night and this one’s going to be a dogfight as well. It’s going to be close and I’d like to go with the home team in these pick ‘em games. With the way Houston has played recently, you just can’t bet against them right now especially when they are underdogs.
We’re picking the Houston Rockets to beat the Milwaukee Bucks on 1/19/19.
Milwaukee is 22-15-2 ATS in 39 games played this season. The Bucks are 7-8-1 ATS on the road this season. Houston is 20-18-1 ATS in their 39 games this season and the Rockets are 12-6-1 ATS in 19 home games played so far. Head to head, the Bucks are 2-1 ATS in their last three meetings.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Houston Rockets 1/9/19
Spread Odds: Bucks -1 (-117) Rockets +1 (-103)
Odds from betonline.ag as of 1/9/19
The Rockets are 8-9 in their last 17 home games against the East and the Rockets are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 meetings against the Bucks. On the other hand, the Bucks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against the Western Conference and 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games played in January. If you like trends, then you go with the Bucks. But I think the Rockets have turned the corner recently and have re-discovered the confidence that made them the best regular season team last season.
Prediction: Rockets +1
The total has gone over in 20 out of the 39 games played by the Bucks but Milwaukee has seen the under go 9-7 in 16 road games this season. On the other hand, the over is 21-17-1 in Houston’s 39 games played this season. The total has gone over in 12 out of the 19 home games played by the Rockets. Head to head, the over is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the Bucks and Rockets.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Houston Rockets 1/9/19
Over/Under Odds: Over 225.5 -110, Under 225.5 -110
Odds from betonline.ag as of 1/9/19
The Rockets have averaged 116.6 points per game in their last 10 games and their offense is on a different level with Harden in a zone. The Bucks are the top scoring team in the league right now at 117.6 points per game. And yes, don’t forget these are the top two teams in three point baskets made and attempted per game so it’s got to be a high scoring affair on Tuesday night at the Toyota Center.
Prediction: Over 225.5
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