The NBA has returned and it all starts with the preseason. Two 1-2 teams will face off in their fourth match-up of the preseason. The Milwaukee Bucks will head over to Utah to compete against The Jazz in what should be a great game. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Bucks-Jazz prediction and pick.
This match-up will definitely be a good one. Both of these teams are coming off dominant victories. The Bucks just squashed the Thunder by 20 and the Jazz destroyed the Pelicans by 30. These are the only victories of the preseason for each squad and both teams will look to carry this momentum into their fourth game. There have been surprises on both ends and this Wednesday night matchup will certainly be one worth tuning in to.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the Bucks-Jazz odds for Wednesday's game.
NBA Odds: Bucks-Jazz Odds
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Milwaukee Bucks: +2.5 (-105)
Utah Jazz: -2.5 (-115)
Over 223.5 (-120)
Under 223.5 (+100)
Why The Bucks Could Cover The Spread
The reigning NBA champions are coming off an impressive victory against Oklahoma City. In a game where only one starter saw more than 20 minutes of playing time they were able to dominate the Thunder. Load management is a huge aspect of the preseason, but it's still promising to see a dominant victory.
The Bucks are spreading the ball around very well. Scoring has been distributed across the entire team. This is a nightmare scenario for opponents. Guarding a team where anyone can get a bucket is extremely difficult. In their win against the Thunder, eight Bucks players scored 10 or more points. Never mind finding an answer to Giannis, trying to defend a team as well balanced as the Bucks is nearly impossible. Giannis has been contributing, but hasn't seen a lot of playing time. This is expected, but what was unexpected is how it would open opportunities for other team members to shine.
Jordan Nwora has been stepping up as other Bucks players have had their playing time limited. Last season he averaged only 9 minutes of playing time. If preseason is any indication of how he'll perform in the regular season then that number will certainly be going up. Nwora had a monster performance against the Nets. He scored 30 points in 33 minutes and made the game extremely competetive. Jordan Nwora has been a bright spot for Milwaukee and if his monster preseason continues then this game is looking good for the Bucks.
Why The Jazz Could Cover The Spread
The Utah Jazz obliterated the New Orleans Pelicans in their last match. Outscoring their opponent in every quarter of the game, the Jazz won 127-96. The 0-2 start to the preseason did not sit well with Utah and they were determined to make a change. Most teams would have let up in the preseason but not Utah. They will certainly try to carry this aggressiveness into a macth-up against the reigning NBA champions.
The Jazz are hungrier than the Bucks. The Bucks will likely play a calm game and try to iron out some kinks. Not the Jazz. Utah will look to destroy the Bucks and will do so by playing their starters for nearly 30 minutes. In a non competitive match against New Orleans, Utah's starters all saw nearly 30 minutes of playing time. If the Jazz continue to turn up the aggression then they should get a win. Different teams have different goals for the preseason. After their last matchup Utah made their goal pretty clear. They want to instill a winning culture now. The stars won't rest and the big guns will come out.
Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are two pillars of this Jazz team. If they both play for 30 minutes in a game where the Bucks stars play less than 20, then victory seems likely. Preseason is very different than the regular season. While Milwaukee may be the better team, Utah is definitely in a position to win this preseason game.
Final Bucks-Jazz Prediction & Pick
This game will come down to playing time and coaching. It seems that the Bucks are using a more cautious strategy with their stars. The Jazz, on the other hand, have decided to let their players loose. The Jazz should win this game if playing time continues to be distributed in the same way it has been all preseason. Pick the Jazz to win and cover and get ready to watch their best players try to dominate the reigning NBA champions.
FINAL BUCKS-JAZZ PICK: Utah Jazz -2.5 (-115)
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Jazz Win 113-107
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