Sixers Open As Big Road ’Dogs in Milwaukee

The Philadelphia 76ers have been pitiful on the road recently, coming off a 31-point loss to Miami on Monday. It doesn’t look very bright for them on Thursday, as they travel to Milwaukee to face the league’s top team — and deservedly open as 9-point underdogs.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Bucks are a juggernaut, dominating teams anywhere they play … but especially at home. With the 76ers, who are dreadful on the road, visiting Thursday, it’s no shock that Milwaukee opened as a 9-point favorite. The total opened at 226 points, taking into account Milwaukee’s high-scoring offense against Philadelphia’s lackluster scoring ability, but it might be a little low considering the total has gone OVER in six of their last seven meetings at Fiserv Forum.

Philadelphia News & Notes

It’s no secret the 76ers are a horrific road team this season, but things have been especially bad of late. Philadelphia is just 1-9 ATS in its last 10 road games and has lost four straight away from home, including the first three games of this current four-game road trip.

Their last game was a humiliating 137-106 beatdown to Miami on Monday, but sadly for the Sixers things look even more bleak as they face the NBA’s top team on Thursday, with Milwaukee a sparkling 23-3 at home.

Philadelphia has also lost 14 of its last 20 against the Bucks, so unless the 76ers can magically find a way to improve an offense that scores the fifth-fewest points in the league on the road — and sits in the bottom third of the league in net rating on the road — they could be in store for another ugly defeat.

Milwaukee News & Notes

There isn’t much to say about the Bucks so far this season that isn’t positive: they have the NBA’s best record at 43-7, they’ve won 11 of their last 12 games, they outscore opponents by a whopping 12.4 points per game (almost five points better than the second-best team in the league) and their next opponent is a Sixers club that is in a tailspin.

Milwaukee boasts the league’s highest-scoring offense and ninth-best defense, along with the NBA’s best rebounding margin and field-goal percentage margin. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton have been a dynamic scoring duo, averaging 50.4 points per game — in just a combined 59.9 minutes per contest.

They also really get up to play within the Eastern Conference, as they are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games against opponents from the East.

Betting Pick: Bucks -9

Philadelphia is really, really bad on the road, while Milwaukee just steamrolls everyone. The Sixers have the talent to win … but I don’t see it happening on Thursday. The Bucks cover. Emphatically.