Game: Milwaukee Bucks @ Phoenix Suns
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Bucks +4, Suns -4
Total: 232.5
The last time these two teams met was in the NBA Finals last season. Phoenix would like nothing more than to avenge their four straight losses to the Bucks that gave Milwaukee its first NBA title in 50 years. The Suns own the league’s best record at 44-10 and are on a new three-game winning streak after having an 11-game stretch broken last week by Atlanta.
The Suns picked up where they left off after the loss to the Hawks and have beaten Washington, Chicago, and Philadelphia in their last three games. Phoenix is now 14-1 in its last 15 games and they love playing at home at the Footprint Center. They are 22-5 in home games this season.
Milwaukee is also hitting its peak having won its last four straight. The Bucks have moved into second place in the Eastern Conference, just a half-game behind first-place Miami. They are in the midst of a West Coast road swing and have won their last three on the left coast. Tuesday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 44 points and the Bucks destroyed the Lakers 131-116. The former two-time MVP also had 14 rebounds and eight assists and he shot an amazing 17-of-20 from the field.
The Bucks are 5-1 straight up and ATS in their last six games. The only loss was to Denver. Milwaukee does not, however, perform well as a road underdog. In their last 19 games playing that role, the Bucks are just 5-14 SU and 5-14 ATS. The Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against Phoenix. One of those games was at Phoenix in last year’s NBA Finals.
The Suns come into tonight on the heels of an impressive 114-109 win over the Sixers on the road on Tuesday night. Leading scorer Devin Booker hit 11-of-23 shots and scored 35 points to lead the Suns. Chris Paul added 16 points and 12 assists. Phoenix has been a solid team to back this season with an overall 30-24 mark against the spread. The problem is the Suns are just 13-14 ATS when they play at home. They are 3-3 ATS in their last six games.
Both teams are in the top-5 in the NBA in scoring. Phoenix is also a top-10 (sixth) defense. The Suns allow 105.4 points per game but, interestingly, Phoenix has allowed an opponent to score 124 points in three of its last seven games. One of those opponents was Atlanta, which was the only loss. Chicago and Minnesota both went off for 124, but the Suns won.
Not surprisingly, the total has gone Over in four of the Suns’ last five games. It’s the same for Milwaukee with the total going Over in five of the last six. The series between these two teams trends Over as well. Seven of the last ten Bucks-Suns games have gone Over the posted total.