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The NBA leaders Milwaukee bucks test the Philadelphia 76ers in a potential Eastern Conference Finals matchup on Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
NBA’s Best Record
The Milwaukee Bucks have gone from good to elite this season. After making the playoffs last season and winning 44 games, their most since 2010, the Bucks have emerged as the best regular season team in the NBA for the 2018-19 season. With four games left to play, Milwaukee is on the verge of clinching home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs with their 58-20 SU record.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is having a freak season with 27.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. First-time All-Star Khris Middleton is also having his best season ever with 18.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Guards Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon have added 16.0 and 15.6 points per game, respectively while big man Brook Lopez leads the team with 2.2 blocks while also putting up 12.6 points per game.
Milwaukee is the highest scoring team in the league at 117.9 points per game. The Bucks also rank first in rebounding with an average of 49.6 boards hauled per contest and they also have the 7th best passing game in the NBA at 26.1 assists per game. The Bucks are ranked 10th in scoring defense at 108.6 opponent points per game allowed.
Bucks
-140
76ers
+110
Odds from 5dimes.eu as of 4/04/19
Along with the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers were the favorites to win the Eastern Conference this season. But the Bucks and the Toronto Raptors have surprised us by going 1-2, respectively in the East this season. That means the Sixers will have to settle for the third seed heading to the playoffs. Despite just being third in their conference, Philadelphia is considered armed and dangerous once the postseason begins.
Joel Embiid leads the Sixers with 27.5 points, 13.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game this season. Jimmy Butler is averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. The newly acquired Tobias Harris is putting up 19.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for the Sixers while the sharpshooting J.J. Redick is scoring 17.7 points per outing. Ben Simmons is having a fine all-around season with 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game.
The Sixers are ranked 4th in the league in team scoring at 115.1 points per game. They are also 4th in passing at 26.8 assists per game and have the 4th best rebounding average in the NBA at 47.7 boards hauled per contest. Philadelphia’s scoring defense is ranked just 17th at 112.2 opponent points per game allowed.
Who Wins?
Milwaukee is 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played and the Bucks are 2-2 SU in their last four games played on the road. Philadelphia is also 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played. The Sixers are 4-0 SU in their last four games played at home. Head to head, the Bucks are 5-3 SU in their last eight meetings against the Sixers.
Milwaukee is on the cusp of clinching the #1 overall seed in the playoffs but it seems that Giannis Antetokounmpo just wants to keep on winning. Prudence tells us that the Bucks should start resting Antetokounmpo anytime now to preserve him for the playoffs, but the Greek Freak just wants to play on. Milwaukee has won five of six with their only loss coming from a buzzer-beating floater by Trae Young.
The Sixers are 5.5 games behind the #2 Toronto Raptors with only five games left to play. That means that Philadelphia can no longer move higher in the rankings. The Sixers are also 3.5 games ahead of the 4th placed Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers which means they are a virtual lock for #3. With their playoff seeding settled, the Sixers can now rest their players. That’s why Embiid is being rested and Butler has been declared as day to day.
Both Embiid and Butler may be out for this contest. On the other hand, Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon are listed as day to day for the Bucks. But for as long as the Greek Freak plays, I have to go with the visitors here. I’m picking the Milwaukee Bucks to beat the Philadelphia 76ers on 04/04/19.
Other Bets To Make
The Bucks are 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 games played. Milwaukee is 2-2 ATS in their last four games played on the road. The Sixers are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played. Philadelphia is 1-3 ATS in their last four home games played. Head to head, the Bucks are 5-3 ATS in their last eight encounters against the Sixers.
Bucks
-2 (-115)
76ers
+2 (-115)
Odds from 5dimes.eu as of 4/04/19
The Bucks are 5-1-2 ATS in their last eight games when playing on two days rest, 10-2 ATS in their last 12 road games against an opponent with a winning home record and 4-1-1 ATS in their last six Thursday games. Embiid and Butler are out of the Sixers’ Wednesday game against the Hawks. Given that Philly has virtually locked up the third seed there’s a good chance both will sit out this game as well . Regardless, the Sixers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games when playing on one day rest. I think rest, injuries and fatigue are going to help the Bucks cover the spread here. Prediction: Bucks
The total has gone over in four out of the last five games played by Milwaukee. The Bucks have seen the total go under in 15 out of their last 25 road games against the Eastern Conference. The total has gone over in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Sixers. The over is also 3-1 in Philly’s last four games played on the road.
Bucks
O 230 (-115)
76ers
U 230 (-115)
Odds from 5dimes.eu as of 4/04/19
These teams are Top 5 in teams scoring right now with the Bucks at #1 and the Sixers at #4. The Sixers’ defense ranks in the bottom half of the league and that’s just going to help Giannis and company put up the points on the scoreboard. Philadelphia is short-handed but they have a deep rotation and a handful of scorers who can fill in the scoring void. Prediction: Over
Prediction: Bucks -4.5
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