The Milwaukee Bucks will be hoping to halt a two-game losing streak when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night. Milwaukee had won six of its previous seven games but has since dropped consecutive contests at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs. Memphis is 7-1 in its last eight games.
With Grizzlies vs. Bucks starting at 8:30pm ET on ESPN, let’s take a look at the odds and best bets to make.
The Bucks compiled a 1-3 record on their recent Western Conference road trip, but that is hardly cause for too much concern. They have struggled away from home all season long, with a 9-13 such record.
At the Fiserv Forum, however, Milwaukee is 16-7. Giannis Antetokounmpo and company are in the midst of a six-game home winning streak; during this stretch they have dominated visiting opponents by scores of 125-96, 123-109, 130-112, 122-93, 130-115 and 121-105. That’s right: the Bucks have won six in a row at home and all of them by at least 14 points.
For the Grizzlies, Ja Morant missed Thursday’s contest against the Houston Rockets due to a shoulder injury and is doubtful for this one. That is obviously a huge absence, as Morant is his team’s second-leading scorer (20.3 ppg) and leader in assists (7.5 apg) while also averaging 4.2 rpg and 1.3 spg. Memphis has only two players other than Morant averaging more than 12.7 ppg, so it won’t be easy to make up for Morant’s scoring.
Milwaukee should be playing inspired basketball on the heels of its recent struggles, especially since it is now a half-game behind the Indiana Pacers for the No.4 spot in the Eastern Conference. Look for the home team to win and cover.
Only 221 points were scored in the previous meeting between Memphis and Milwaukee this season. The rematch won’t be entirely the same, as Desmond Bane of the Grizzlies and Khris Middleton of the Bucks were sidelined from that contest. However, Morant was on the floor for that one. Morant’s expected absence is certainly one reason to like the under on Sunday.
An under play should also correlate nicely with Bucks -3, as they play a more defensive style than the Grizzlies. Milwaukee is No. 7 in the Eastern Conference and No. 16 in the NBA in pace of play (possessions per game). If the home team can control the pace of Sunday’s showdown, it should be able to win a relatively low-scoring affair.
Two of the Bucks’ last four visiting opponents have been held below the century mark and they have not surrendered more than 115 points at home since December 4.
All things considered, the under looks like the best bet to make.
With Morant likely on the shelf, the door should be open for Aldama to put up plenty of points for Memphis. The 7’0’’ power forward is averaging 12.7 ppg this season and is coming off a 15-point effort against Houston.
He has reached double-figures in four of the last six contests, including 20-point and 29-point performances against the San Antonio Spurs twice during this hot streak.
It should also be noted that Aldama pinned 19 points on Milwaukee when these two teams last faced each other on October 31.
Read more betting picks and predictions for the NBA on site.
Memphis Grizzlies | +130 ML |
Milwaukee Bucks | -155 ML |
Spread | MIL Bucks -3 |
Total Points | O/U 246.5 |
Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM Grizzlies) | O/U 23.5 |
Desmond Bane (MEM Grizzlies) | O/U 20.5 |
Luke Kennard (MEM Grizzlies) | O/U 12.5 |
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL Bucks) | O/U 32.5 |
Damian Lillard (MIL Bucks) | O/U 25.5 |
Khris Middleton (MIL Bucks) | O/U 12.5 |
Read the latest NBA news on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.