Game: Brooklyn Nets @ Milwaukee Bucks
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Odds: Nets +4, Bucks -4
Total: 233
Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged nearly 30 points per game last season and he is off to a quick start this season. He is scoring 32.5 points per game so far in the new season and faces an opponent tonight that he has had great success against. Brooklyn has struggled to contain Antetokounmpo. He averaged 31.9 points per game in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 against the Nets and in his last seven games against Brooklyn, Giannis has averaged 36.4 a game.
Antetokounmpo averaged a career-high 29.9 points per game in 67 games last year as Milwaukee failed to successfully defend its NBA championship. He totaled 21 points and 13 rebounds in Milwaukee’s 90-88 victory over Philadelphia to start the season last Thursday. He dominated on Saturday as Milwaukee trounced Houston 125-105 with 44 points and 12 rebounds in just 28 minutes.
In his career, Antetokounmpo has averaged 24.7 points per game against the Nets. It is the highest average he has against a team from the Eastern Conference. He has scored at least 30 points in seven of his last eight regular-season games against Brooklyn, including 44 last March 31 in Milwaukee’s overtime win in Brooklyn.
This season’s Nets have had a difficult start due to poor defensive performance. They finally managed to win on Friday when Kevin Durant hit the game-winning 3-pointer to upset Toronto. The Nets lost to the New Orleans Pelicans by 22 points last Wednesday to start the season. On Monday they lost to Memphis.
In their 134-124 loss to Memphis on Monday, the Nets struggled in the second half and were unable to stop Ja Morant and Desmond Bane. The Nets took a five-point lead into halftime but were outscored 70-55 in the second half. Brooklyn let Morant and Bane each score 38 points and combine to make 12 of their team’s 16 three-point attempts.
Brooklyn’s shaky defense picked the wrong night when its star duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving had their most effective outings to date. Ben Simmons struggled once more and fouled out again, but Durant and Irving combined for 37 points on 28-of-44 shooting.
Milwaukee is 19-5 SU in the previous 24 regular-season meetings. The Bucks have scored at least 120 points in eight of their last 11 games against Brooklyn. The Nets are just 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall. They are also 1-6 ATS in their last six games against Milwaukee.
As talented as Milwaukee is, the total has gone Under in 11 of the Bucks’ last 14 games. Against Brooklyn, the Under is 10-3 in the last 14 head-to-head meetings. In the last seven games against Brooklyn at home, the Under is 6-1. The Nets and Bucks played four times last season. Three of the four went Under.
The Nets have won just one of their last six games dating back to last season. They haven’t played well on the road either. Brooklyn is just 1-4 SU in its last five road games.
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