Game: Milwaukee Bucks @ New Orleans Pelicans
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Odds: Bucks -1, Grizzlies +1
Total: 228.5
With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, the Milwaukee Bucks are incredibly strong. Apparently, they appear to function fairly well without them too.
While Antetokounmpo and Middleton missed Sunday’s game with Utah, their teammates handled the Jazz 123-97. The two Bucks’ stars were out due to sore knees. The Bucks entered Sunday tied with the Boston Celtics for the best record in the NBA and came away with a huge win. Now, the Bucks travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans (18-11).
In Antetokounmpo’s place on Sunday, Bobby Portis started and led the Bucks with 22 points and 14 rebounds. He scored 15 of his points in the first quarter to begin the rout. Jrue Holiday added 21 points and eight assists, rookie MarJon Beauchamp had 18 points, and two-way player Sandro Mamukelashvili’s had six assists and eight rebounds in 23 minutes after being signed from the G-League.
Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said that Mamukelashvili had a huge impact on the game against Utah. Joe Ingles is expected to make his Milwaukee debut against New Orleans, according to Budenholzer. He was signed by the Bucks during the offseason, and he has been recovering from surgery to repair a knee injury that occurred last January.
The Pelicans left home a week ago after winning seven straight games, but they have lost three straight games for the first time this season—two to Utah and one at Phoenix. In a 118-114 loss to the Suns on Saturday night, New Orleans allowed Devin Booker to score 58 points. The Pelicans also blew a 24-point lead.
When Phoenix went on a 25-6 run to end the third quarter, New Orleans’ 83-59 halftime lead was cut to five points. During a stretch that spanned portions of the third and fourth quarters, Booker scored 25 straight points for the Suns.
Despite Booker’s display, the Pelicans were still within striking distance late in the game. With less than two minutes left, New Orleans was down by two points and had a chance to tie the game when Larry Nance Jr. missed two free throws with 1:52 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Chris Paul answered with a 3-pointer to give Phoenix the lead.
Phoenix outscored New Orleans 17-5 on second chances, which was one of the differences in the game. With the loss, the Pelicans are now 12-5 SU in their last 17 games. As mentioned, they are 7-0 SU in their last seven home games. The Pelicans are a top-5 offense scoring over 117 points per game. The total has gone Over in four of their last five games and in 11 of the last 12 games against the Bucks.
Milwaukee is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games. Middleton will not play tonight, but Antetokounmpo is listed as probable. The Bucks are 6-2 SU in their last eight games against New Orleans. The Bucks are a top-5 defense and seven of their last eight road games have resulted in the game total going Under.
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