The Milwaukee Bucks will take on the Philadelphia 76ers in a crucial matchup of Eastern Conference contenders. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Bucks-76ers prediction and pick.
Both of these teams desperately need a win here. Milwaukee and Philadelphia are currently tied for the second seed in the East, along with the Boston Celtics. All three of those teams are one game back of the Miami Heat in the first seed. The top of the conference is essentially up for grabs, and the winner of this game will have a great shot at claiming the top spot.
The Bucks have a fairly tough remaining schedule, with games against the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls coming up. That makes winning here even more important.
The Sixers, on the other hand, should dominate down the stretch. They're only scheduled to face one playoff-caliber team for the rest of the season after this contest. With so much riding on this game, it's bound to be an entertaining one. Let's cut to the chase and get to the pick.
Here are the Bucks-76ers odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Bucks-76ers Odds
Milwaukee Bucks: +1 (-114)
Philadelphia 76ers: -1 (-106)
Over: 231 (-110)
Under: 231 (-110)
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Why The Bucks Could Cover The Spread
The Milwaukee defense has a chance to put on a show in this matchup. The Bucks have been sound defensively all season long, only allowing 111 points per game. They also hold their opponents to a 45% shooting percentage from the field, a top-10 number in the NBA. It helps that the Sixers haven't been a great offensive team. Philadelphia only scores 108 points per game while shooting 46% from the field. To make matters worse, the 76ers only shoot 84 shots per game, one of the lowest numbers in the league. The Bucks shouldn't have much trouble defensively here.
Surprisingly, the Sixers are one of the worst teams against the spread when they play at home. Philadelphia is 15-22 ATS at home, with a 36-37-1 ATS overall. Head coach Doc Rivers' squad is also 11-17 against the spread as a home favorite. The Bucks are one of the few teams in the league that has been better at covering on the road, earning a 19-17 record away from home. This looks like a pretty decent spot to take Milwaukee as an underdog.
Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
Philadelphia will also fare well on defense here. They've been one of the best defenses in the league all season, giving up 106 points per game on 45% shooting. The Sixers also hold their opponents to a 34% 3-point percentage, one of the best numbers in the league. That's especially important in this matchup, as the Bucks shoot the fourth-most triples per game in the NBA. Expect Philadelphia to hold its own defensively at the very least.
It's possible that the Bucks will be without their best player in this game. Superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is questionable for this matchup because of a mild knee injury. If Antetokounmpo does miss this matchup, the Sixers are essentially a lock to cover. Even if he does play, the Sixers have a good shot at earning a cover. The last time these teams played, Antetokounmpo dropped a 32-point double-double and Philadelphia won by two.
Final Bucks-76ers Prediction & Pick
This is a pretty simple pick. The game is essentially a coin flip, which makes Milwaukee the correct pick. If Antetokounmpo does end up sitting this one out, the under becomes the best play available.
Final Bucks-76ers Prediction & Pick: Milwaukee Bucks: +1 (-114)
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