Milwaukee Bucks Streaking With Celtics In Town
The Milwaukee Bucks are quietly the hottest team in the NBA. They hope to continue their streak Thursday night versus the Boston Celtics as part of a 6-game slate.
Tip-off from Bradley Center will be at 8:00 p.m. (ET) and NBA-TV will have the night’s only nationally televised game opposite March Madness. We identified three red-hot against the spread teams in our Tuesday night preview in Milwaukee, New York and Phoenix. Each covered the spread that night.
Milwaukee (21-24 straight up, 22-23 ATS) has now won 6-straight and covered eight in a row. The whole team is playing well, but the acquisition of shooting guard Monta Ellis from Golden State for the injured Andrew Bogut is another boost. Ellis is averaging 16 PPG in his two Bucks’ games and forms a potent backcourt with Brandon Jennings.
Scott Skiles’ team is in the playoff chase and up to seventh in league scoring (98 PPG) after averaging 112 PPG the last seven games. The last game at Portland (116-87) on Tuesday did go under the 206 ½-point total, after the ‘over’ was 6-0 in the previous six.
The Celtics (24-21 SU, 20-25-1 ATS) are seventh in the Eastern Conference and the last two playoff spots could come down to them, New York and Milwaukee. Boston is towards the end of a grueling 8-game road trip that started on the West Coast and has gone 3-3 SU and ATS.
Point production has dropped for the Celtics the last four games (105, 95, 91 and 79), but this aging group will at least have had two days rest before Thursday. Boston will be without big men Jermaine O’Neal and Chris Wilcox for the rest of the year, with the slender Kevin Garnett forced to play center.
Boston won the only meeting this year, 102-96 at home on Leap Day. The Bucks just got the cover as 6½-point ‘dogs and are 4-1 ATS in the last five in the series.
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets
8:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Broadcasts
The Warriors (18-25 SU, 22-21 ATS) have lost 4-straight games (2-2 ATS) pending a Wednesday night duel in New Orleans. Golden State has actually covered its last four away (3-1 SU), with two coming after the unpopular trade of Ellis. Injuries are a big concern with center Andris Biedrins (groin) questionable Wednesday and Stephen Curry (ankle) out indefinitely.
The Rockets (25-22 SU, 24-23 ATS) have a slim lead for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference. They’ve played seven of their last nine away, but are 2-0 SU and ATS in the home ones, including 107-104 over the Lakers on Tuesday. Point guard Kyle Lowry (infection) is out indefinitely and Kevin Martin (shoulder) doubtful, but this is a deep group that keeps fighting.
Golden State won the first meeting against Houston this year, 106-97 as a 1½-point home favorite on February 12. Houston is 6-0 SU and ATS in the last six in Texas.
Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers
10:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Broadcasts
Memphis (25-19 SU, 20-24 ATS) started its 4-game trip on Tuesday, a 119-110 loss at Sacramento as 3-point favorites. The Grizzlies are 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS in their last four games. Power forward Zach Randolph (knee) has scored 17 PPG in the last three after being out since early January. The team should start to jell more as it gets used to the new starting lineup.
The Trail Blazers (21-25 SU, 21-24-1 ATS) continued their skid with an awful 116-87 home loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday. They’re 3-9 SU and ATS since the All-Star break, with the last five losses by an average of 24.4 points. Coach Nate McMillan has already been fired and replaced by Kaleb Canales, but they look outmanned right now.
Portland won the only meeting against Memphis this year back in January, 97-84 as 6-point favorites.
Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings
10:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Broadcasts
Utah (24-22 SU and ATS) is fighting for a playoff spot and has won four straight (3-1 ATS) after a 97-90 Tuesday home win over Oklahoma City as 3-point ‘dogs. The Jazz’ prior game was a rare road win at the Lakers (103-99), going just 6-16 SU and 8-14 ATS overall this season. The ‘over’ is 4-0 in their last four away, scoring 100.5 PPG and allowing 108.5 PPG.
The Kings (17-29 SU, 24-22 ATS) are also a much better home team (13-9 SU) than away (4-20 SU). They’re ending a massive 9-game homestand, winning and covering the last three over Boston (120-95), Minnesota (115-99) and Memphis (119-110). The ‘over’ is 4-0 in the last four, with an average 223.5 total points.
The home team has taken both meetings this year, with Sacramento’s victory 103-96 as a 3½-point favorite on February 28. The Kings have covered the last four in the series and the ‘under’ is 3-0 in the last three.
The Milwaukee Bucks are quietly the hottest team in the NBA. They hope to continue their streak Thursday night versus the Boston Celtics as part of a 6-game slate.
Tip-off from Bradley Center will be at 8:00 p.m. (ET) and NBA-TV will have the night’s only nationally televised game opposite March Madness. We identified three red-hot against the spread teams in our Tuesday night preview in Milwaukee, New York and Phoenix. Each covered the spread that night.
Milwaukee (21-24 straight up, 22-23 ATS) has now won 6-straight and covered eight in a row. The whole team is playing well, but the acquisition of shooting guard Monta Ellis from Golden State for the injured Andrew Bogut is another boost. Ellis is averaging 16 PPG in his two Bucks’ games and forms a potent backcourt with Brandon Jennings.
Scott Skiles’ team is in the playoff chase and up to seventh in league scoring (98 PPG) after averaging 112 PPG the last seven games. The last game at Portland (116-87) on Tuesday did go under the 206 ½-point total, after the ‘over’ was 6-0 in the previous six.
The Celtics (24-21 SU, 20-25-1 ATS) are seventh in the Eastern Conference and the last two playoff spots could come down to them, New York and Milwaukee. Boston is towards the end of a grueling 8-game road trip that started on the West Coast and has gone 3-3 SU and ATS.
Point production has dropped for the Celtics the last four games (105, 95, 91 and 79), but this aging group will at least have had two days rest before Thursday. Boston will be without big men Jermaine O’Neal and Chris Wilcox for the rest of the year, with the slender Kevin Garnett forced to play center.
Boston won the only meeting this year, 102-96 at home on Leap Day. The Bucks just got the cover as 6½-point ‘dogs and are 4-1 ATS in the last five in the series.
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets
8:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Broadcasts
The Warriors (18-25 SU, 22-21 ATS) have lost 4-straight games (2-2 ATS) pending a Wednesday night duel in New Orleans. Golden State has actually covered its last four away (3-1 SU), with two coming after the unpopular trade of Ellis. Injuries are a big concern with center Andris Biedrins (groin) questionable Wednesday and Stephen Curry (ankle) out indefinitely.
The Rockets (25-22 SU, 24-23 ATS) have a slim lead for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference. They’ve played seven of their last nine away, but are 2-0 SU and ATS in the home ones, including 107-104 over the Lakers on Tuesday. Point guard Kyle Lowry (infection) is out indefinitely and Kevin Martin (shoulder) doubtful, but this is a deep group that keeps fighting.
Golden State won the first meeting against Houston this year, 106-97 as a 1½-point home favorite on February 12. Houston is 6-0 SU and ATS in the last six in Texas.
Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers
10:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Broadcasts
Memphis (25-19 SU, 20-24 ATS) started its 4-game trip on Tuesday, a 119-110 loss at Sacramento as 3-point favorites. The Grizzlies are 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS in their last four games. Power forward Zach Randolph (knee) has scored 17 PPG in the last three after being out since early January. The team should start to jell more as it gets used to the new starting lineup.
The Trail Blazers (21-25 SU, 21-24-1 ATS) continued their skid with an awful 116-87 home loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday. They’re 3-9 SU and ATS since the All-Star break, with the last five losses by an average of 24.4 points. Coach Nate McMillan has already been fired and replaced by Kaleb Canales, but they look outmanned right now.
Portland won the only meeting against Memphis this year back in January, 97-84 as 6-point favorites.
Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings
10:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Broadcasts
Utah (24-22 SU and ATS) is fighting for a playoff spot and has won four straight (3-1 ATS) after a 97-90 Tuesday home win over Oklahoma City as 3-point ‘dogs. The Jazz’ prior game was a rare road win at the Lakers (103-99), going just 6-16 SU and 8-14 ATS overall this season. The ‘over’ is 4-0 in their last four away, scoring 100.5 PPG and allowing 108.5 PPG.
The Kings (17-29 SU, 24-22 ATS) are also a much better home team (13-9 SU) than away (4-20 SU). They’re ending a massive 9-game homestand, winning and covering the last three over Boston (120-95), Minnesota (115-99) and Memphis (119-110). The ‘over’ is 4-0 in the last four, with an average 223.5 total points.
The home team has taken both meetings this year, with Sacramento’s victory 103-96 as a 3½-point favorite on February 28. The Kings have covered the last four in the series and the ‘under’ is 3-0 in the last three.
Comment