The Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks have been major surprises in their respective conferences through three weeks of the NBA season, and the clubs will collide for the first time in 2018-19 in Wisconsin on Sunday. Sportsbooks opened the Bucks as 10-point home favorites with a total of 235.
- The Bucks are 5-0-1 ATS in their last six home games.
- The OVER is 26-6 in the Bucks' last 32 games.
- Kings are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Milwaukee.
Young talent stepping up for the Kings
The Kings, who’ve won five straight games, looked like a sure bet to miss the playoffs this season but have been carried by their young players so far. Sacramento won the first three stops on a recent four-game road trip, capped by a huge 146-115 win against Atlanta on Thursday. Second-year guard De’Aaron Fox posted his first career triple-double in the game.
The Bucks won seven straight to start the season before falling to Boston 117-113 on Thursday. Milwaukee small forward Khris Middleton was one of several players who struggled in the game, going 6-for-18 from the floor. Middleton averaged 24.3 points during the first four games of the season but has seen that number drop to 16 over the last four games. Milwaukee has claimed the past four meetings against the Kings by an average of 18.5 points.
Kings have been cover machines of late
Sportsbooks have clearly been slow to catch on to Sacramento’s success, but it’s been great news for hoops bettors. In the Kings’ past five games, they’re a perfect 5-0 ATS. The Kings are also 4-1 ATS in their past five road games. As far as the total goes, the OVER is 5-1 in Sacramento’s last six away from home.
The Bucks have also been an excellent to start the year, going 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games. Dating back to last season, the OVER is 26-6 in Milwaukee’s last 32 games. Twelve of the Bucks’ past 15 home games have also gone above the closing total.
My pick: take the Kings
Sacramento is simply playing too well to receive underdog spreads this large, whether they’re on the road or at home. Obviously oddsmakers are expecting the Bucks to keep their hot streak going, but considering the -10 number for them, it’s too many points for me to lay against a streaking Kings team. Take Sacramento as big road dogs.
