76ers vs. Bucks: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
76ers vs. Bucks Odds
| 76ers Odds | +5 |
| Bucks Odds | -5 |
| Over/Under | 232 |
| Date | Sat, Mar. 4 |
| Time | 8:30 p.m. |
| TV | ABC |
On Saturday, the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks will meet at Fiserv Forum on ABC at 8:30 p.m. EST. Entering play, Philadelphia (40-22) owns the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, trailing Milwaukee (45-17) by five games for the 1-seed. In this matchup, oddsmakers are anticipating a tightly-contested affair, pricing the Bucks as 5-point home favorites on the spread.
Philadelphia 76ers
Defensive vulnerabilities
Since February 1, the 76ers rank 14th in opponent three-point attempts allowed and 13th in opponent three-point percentage in 13 games played. On the road, this group has struggled even more to defend the perimeter, ranking 16th in opponent three-point attempts allowed and 24th in opponent three-point percentage.
Facing a Milwaukee offensive attack that ranks fourth in the NBA this season in three-point attempts per game, this defense could find life difficult on Saturday.
Tough on the road
Despite Philadelphia’s difficulty defending the three-point line on the road, they are 11-5 in their last 16 games away from home. During that time period, the 76ers own the second-best Net Rating of any team in the NBA on the road, having outscored their opponents by 3.8 points per 100 possessions.
In their 11 wins, Philadelphia has beaten notable opponents such as the Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks.
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Milwaukee Bucks
16 consecutive wins
Ahead of tip-off on Saturday, the Bucks have won 16 consecutive contests. In that span, they have notable wins against the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Phoenix Suns – proving that they have done more than take advantage of a soft stretch in their schedule.
This recent run has coincided with the return of Khris Middleton, who is still on a minutes restriction and coming off of the bench. Nonetheless, his impact has been substantial. The Bucks are 17-3 with Middleton in the lineup this year. Per Cleaning the Glass, Milwaukee ranks in the 70th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 97th percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the floor.
Dominant at home
In 32 home games this year, the Bucks are 27-5. Playing in their home building, only four teams have a better Net Rating than Milwaukee for the season. Per 100 possessions, Giannis Antetokounmpo and company have outscored their opponents by 8.1 points per 100 possessions in these situations.
76ers vs. Bucks – Picks & Predictions
Tonight, NBA fans will be treated to a matchup between two of the best teams in the entire league in a battle of strength against strength. Milwaukee has been one of the league’s best teams at home, but will be hosting one of the NBA’s toughest road opponents – Philadelphia, on Saturday.
From a betting perspective, it makes little sense to go against the Bucks at the present moment, in the midst of a 16-game winning streak. Expect Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton to continue being difference makers for this roster, and for the role players to perform well in the comfort of their home building.
PICK: Bucks -5 (-110, FanDuel)
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