The Milwaukee Bucks, the second-place team in the Eastern Conference, open a six-game homestand tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies. That’s great news for Milwaukee bettors as the Central Division-leading Bucks have covered the spread in every home game this season. Milwaukee is a 10-point favorite tonight, the second-biggest spread it has faced at home this season. The total opened at 217.5 and is as low as 215 at some books at the time of this preview.
- The Bucks are 9-0 SU and 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine games as home favorites.
- The Grizzlies are 9-33 SU in their last 42 games vs teams with winning records.
- The total has gone OVER in six of the Bucks’ last seven games (avg. combined score: 238.71).
Grizzlies vs Bucks Game Center
Giannis Averaging 27.2 Points At Home
One big reason for the Bucks’ success is six-foot-11 MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is averaging 25.4 points per game this season and that number jumps to 27.2 points per game on his home court.
On three days’ rest, Giannis is even better at 29 points per game (the Bucks haven’t played since Sunday). To add to the legend, he’s pulling down 14 rebounds per game on home court.
At 6-0 SU and 5-0-1 ATS at home, the Bucks are proving that Wisconsin is a tough place to play for visiting NBA teams. This is certainly a trend to keep an eye on throughout the season.
Bucks Have the NBA’s Top Offense
Yes, Milwaukee has been more proficient in scoring than the defending champions from Golden State, averaging 121.6 points per game overall and 124.3 points at home. The Bucks are winning by an average of 14.6 points per game when they tip off at the Fiserv Forum.
By comparison, the Memphis Grizzlies have the worst road scoring numbers in the Association. The Grizz are the only team in the NBA averaging less than 100 points per game on the road, and they’re well under 100 at 96.3. Those numbers are highlighted by their 41.1 percent field-goal percentage.
My Pick for This Game
I’m taking Milwaukee on the spread. The Bucks offense is just too good for any defense in the league, especially at home. Memphis has been good defensively, there’s no doubt. The Grizzlies have kept every team they’ve played in check, but when looking at comparables, lost by 16 to Golden State.
The Bucks are second in the league in opponents’ field-goal percentage and we’ve already seen how poorly the Grizzlies are shooting from the floor. I predict a result similar to the Memphis vs Golden State game, and that would indicate the Bucks will cover.
