Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Picks, Predictions and Odds

Injuries and a roster reshape mean the 2024/25 NBA season might be starting a week too early for the Philadelphia 76ers, who host the Milwaukee Bucks to open the campaign.

Paul George, the 76ers' star offseason addition, looks like he will miss the game with a bone bruise to his knee, while rookie guard Jared McCain is likely out after taking a nasty fall in the preseason.

The Bucks, on the other hand, are running it back after an injury to superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo derailed the team's playoff hopes last season.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers betting picks and predictions

Milwaukee Bucks +3.0 (-110)

Milwaukee swept the Sixers last season and they look a good shot to begin the 2024/25 NBA campaign by beating Philadelphia once again.

The two Eastern Conference powerhouses, which were both first-round disappointments in the 2023/24 playoffs, begin the season with a showdown at the Wells Fargo Center where Giannis and company can upset the odds.

Philly is traditionally hot out of the gate but if there's a year when that might not be the case, then this is it.

Preseason will never be too informative, but the Sixers' 2-3 record, including a 50-point mauling by Boston, hasn't gone unnoticed.

The problem isn't that head coach Nick Nurse rested all of his stars; the problem was that several of his stars had been injured while he was trying to get the new-look roster to mesh.

Paul George, one of those newcomers and a key addition alongside Joel Embiid, is set to miss the opener. And, Embiid has been rested in preseason as he manages his own ailments that saw him off the floor more times than he was on it last season.

Making matters worse is that guards Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain have been injured. Continuity counts for a lot, and enthusiasm over how the club have done their business in the offseason has been tempered by the fact that Nurse has yet to put them all on the floor together.

That is all in stark contrast to what has happened in Milwaukee this offseason. Changes have been minimal and coach Doc Rivers gets a clean slate with a familiar group.

That means Damian Lillard, with points to prove, should have better chemistry with Antetokounmpo. The same applies to Khris Middleton (who is out against the Sixers) and Brook Lopez, who are each talented players coming off below-par years..

This looks a great opportunity for the Bucks who can cover a +3.0 spread.

Under 224.5 total points (-110)

Two of last season's three meetings between these teams and four of the last five in total have produced Over 224.5 points.

The season opener at the Wells Fargo Center, however, promises to be a more restrained matchup.

The Sixers, when they get Embiid, George and Maxey on the floor, are going to be explosive. When they are on the floor having developed chemistry together, they may well be electric.

However, we already know that none of three are fully healthy going into the season with George definitely ruled out against the Bucks.

It makes the Sixers something of an unknown quantity going into the first game of 2024/25.

The Bucks are coming off a disappointing second half of last season and will be looking to a trio of Giannis, Middleton and Lillard, all of whom can light up a game.

But Middleton's out with an injury and the pressure is on Rivers after an uninspiring start to life in charge of the Bucks.

This could be a tense showdown between two teams who likely won't be at their best this early in the season. Therefore, it doesn't look like a high-scoring matchup.

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Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks odds

Philadelphia 76ers	-150 ML
Milwaukee Bucks	+125 ML
Spread	PHI 76ers -3.0
Total Points	O/U 224.5

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks player props

Points O/U

Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL Bucks)	O/U 28.5
Tyrese Maxey (PHI 76ers)	O/U 27.5
Damian Lillard (MIL Bucks)	O/U 24.5
Kelly Oubre Jr. (PHI 76ers)	O/U 17.5
Brook Lopez (MIL Bucks)	O/U 11.5
Andre Drummond (PHI 76ers)	O/U 11.5

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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.