Game: Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Odds: Bulls +7, Bucks -7
Total: 231
In an effort to clinch first place in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks (56-22 SU, 41-30-7 ATS) take on the Chicago Bulls (38-40, 39-37-2) tonight at Fiserv Forum. In their last nine games, the Bucks are 7-2, while the Bulls are 9-5.
The Bulls’ two-game winning streak ended on Tuesday when the Atlanta Hawks thrashed them 123-105. DeMar DeRozan had 21 points and Zach LaVine had 26, but no other Chicago player scored more than 20 points. The Bulls have assured a place in the play-in tournament as the regular season comes to a close because they are the 10th seed with a four-game lead over the Indiana Pacers.
LaVine appears to be getting hotter just in time. The shooting guard scored 30 or more points in three of his last seven games and averaged 28.4 points per game in March.
The Bucks defeated the Washington Wizards 140-128 on Tuesday to win their second game in a row. Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Jrue Holiday almost did the same with 26 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds.
Milwaukee’s offense has exploded in the past month, averaging 128.5 points through two games in April after scoring less than 125 points per game on average in March. Brook Lopez averaged 19.5 points per game in March, his best month of the season. He started April with two straight 20-plus point performances and is continuing to make a difference.
On paper, the Bulls really can’t match the potent Bucks because LaVine and DeRozan are the only two reliable scorers for Chicago this year. Keeping up with Milwaukee’s varied offense is going to be extremely difficult with just two bona fide scorers. However, the Bulls have dominated the Bucks this season, winning two of their three meetings while holding them to 113 points in the wins. In those victories, DeRozan dominated, averaging 39 points per game. The Bulls will need another one of those performances tonight.
Even though Pat Connaughton (ankle) and Grayson Allen (ankle) will be unavailable, the Bucks still have more than enough offensive firepower to complete the task tonight. With support from Lopez, Holiday, and the rest of the Bucks, Antetokounmpo has been effective, scoring 30 points or more in four of his last seven games.
However, Milwaukee needs to find a way to ignite its offense against Chicago. With just 14.5 points per game in the three meetings this season, Holiday has struggled against the Bulls this season. He’ll need to step it up a bit to ensure the victory.
The Under is 7-1 in the last eight meetings between the two teams at Fiserv Forum and the Under is 12-4 in the last 16 head-to-head Bucks-Bulls meetings. Milwaukee has won 15 of its last 18 home games, but the Bulls are 7-1 SU in their last eight games on the road.
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