Game: Golden State Warriors @ Milwaukee Bucks
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Odds: Warriors +4.5, Bucks -4.5
Total: 231.5
The Golden State Warriors will travel to the Milwaukee Bucks for tonight’s nationally televised matchup. Both teams are coming off emotional games, but with different outcomes.
The Warriors will face the team with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference one game after dealing with the top team – Boston. The Warriors beat the Celtics 123-107 at home on Saturday night in a hotly anticipated rematch of the NBA Finals from June.
The Celtics came into the game with the league’s highest-scoring offense, but they were held in check by the Warriors’ defense. Golden State harassed Boston star Jayson Tatum into 6-for-21 shooting and held the Celtics to 43.7 percent shooting overall and 30 percent from three-point range.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr liked the defensive effort against Boston. It was the first time this season that Golden State had really clamped down on an opponent. The defense is a big part of the reason why the Warriors are just 14-13 so far this season. Some of it also has to do with missing Andrew Wiggins, who will be out again tonight and miss his fourth straight game.
The Bucks lost to a motivated Houston team on Sunday. Rockets head coach Stephen Silas lost his father, former NBA great Paul Silas who passed away early Sunday. Milwaukee ended up losing 97-92 to Houston. Khris Middleton sprained an ankle but is listed as probable for tonight.
Golden State may take a page from Houston’s playbook. The Rockets packed the paint and forced Milwaukee to shoot from long range. It worked as the Bucks shot just 12-of-43 (36.7 percent) from behind the three-point arc.
The teams split their season series last year with the home team winning each game. Both games were decided on defense. The Warriors were held to 34.7 percent shooting by the Bucks in a 19-point victory in Milwaukee. The Bucks shot 41.3 percent in a 13-point loss in San Francisco.
Former two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will face off against Draymond Green, one of the best defenders in the league. In their 10 meetings against one another, Green has held the upper hand. He has limited Antetokounmpo to an average of 18.4 points which includes 22.7 percent shooting from three-point range. On the offensive end, Green has averaged 13.2 points per game and has averaged more rebounds, assists, and steals than Antetokounmpo. Seven of those 10 games have been victories for the Warriors.
Golden State is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games. The Warriors have struggled on the road though where they are just 2-11 SU for the season. Golden State is 4-1 ATS in its last five games and 4-2 ATS in its last six against Milwaukee.
The Bucks are 4-1 SU in their last five games and 8-3 SU in their last 11 against teams from the Western Conference. Four of the last five game totals have gone Under for the Bucks and the Under is 4-2 in the last six games against the Warriors.
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