NBA Game Preview: Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers

Mar 29, 2022

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Game: Milwaukee Bucks @ Philadelphia 76ers 

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET 

Odds:  Bucks +1.5, Sixers -1.5 

Total: 228.5 

The Bucks and Sixers head into tonight’s game with identical records. Someone will come out ahead after this showdown that features two of the top scorers in the NBA. Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 29.7 points a game for the Bucks and Joel Embiid scores 29.9 a game for Philadelphia. The teams have split two games this season with the road team winning each. Philly is 5-1 SU in its last six games and the Bucks are 4-2 SU in their last six. 

The Bucks have won 10 of their last 13 games though they were beaten handily by Memphis on Saturday, 127-102. The Grizzlies were without star Ja Morant, but the Grizzlies still took it to the Bucks. Regardless, Milwaukee is still running hot. Prior to the loss to Memphis, the Bucks averaged 122.2 points per game in their previous five outings. With their Big Three – Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday – on the floor, the Milwaukee offense could run up the score again. 

The Sixers have cooled off a bit going 6-4 SU over their last ten games. Since the trade deadline that brought James Harden to Philadelphia, the Sixers are 14-6. Philly had won three straight before running into Phoenix on Sunday. The 76ers lost 114-104 despite 37 points and 15 rebounds from Joel Embiid. Harden was off shooting just 2-of-11 from the floor and ending up with 14 points. Philly will need Harden to play closer to his average of roughly 22 points per game. 

The Bucks are a 1.5-point road underdog tonight. They have not played the role of underdog much this season and when they have, Milwaukee has not fared well. The Bucks are 4-10 SU and ATS when playing as the dog. Philadelphia hasn’t done much better in the role of home favorite. The Sixers are only 11-17 SU when favored at home. Since acquiring Harden, Philadelphia is 4-4 ATS when favored at home. 

The Sixers are 3-3-1 ATS in their last seven games which is how they have trended all season. Their record against the spread this season is 36-37-1. Milwaukee hasn’t been all that great against the number either – 35-39 ATS for the season – but lately, they have been. The Bucks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games. The Bucks are 7-3 SU in their last ten games and they won those seven games by an average of over 15 points per game. 

The Bucks are fourth in the league in scoring right now, yet they trend Under for the season with a 36-38 O/U record. Six of their last eight games have gone Under. Philadelphia rarely sees totals this high, but this series has been known for the total going Over. In the last 13 head-to-head meetings, the Over has cashed a winning ticket nine times. When the Sixers have played at home against Milwaukee, the Over is 5-1 in the last six games. When the teams played in February, Philly won 123-120 when the total was set at 222.5.