The final stretch of the NBA season begins and the Milwaukee Bucks (46-8), who have the best record in the league, kick things off on the road against the Detroit Pistons (19-38). Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena. We analyze the Bucks-Pistons odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.
Bucks at Pistons: Key injuries
Bucks
- SG Kyle Korver (back) out
Pistons
- PF Blake Griffin (knee) out
- SG Luke Kennard (knee) out
- SF Khyri Thomas (foot) out
Bucks at Pistons: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Bucks 122, Pistons 105
Moneyline (ML)
This is an overwhelmingly lopsided matchup. The Bucks are favored at a ridiculous -1000 and the Pistons are +650 underdogs at home. Milwaukee has lost only five times all season on the road and the Pistons have only 11 home wins. Plus, the Bucks are a motivated team ramping up for the postseason. The Pistons are short on talent.
That said, the Bucks are such a favorite it isn’t worth the wager. There is no value at all. PASS on the moneyline.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Bucks returns a profit of $1.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The spread is set at 13.5 points The Bucks are the league’s third-best team against the spread this season, going 31-23 ATS. The Pistons are the league’s second-worst team at 21-35-1. They are 11-18 ATS at home. Milwaukee is 15-10 ATS on the road and has covered five of their last seven on the road.
I anticipate a blowout in this game after time off for the All-Star break. Take the BUCKS (-13.5, -106) to win by at least 14 points.
Over/Under (O/U)
The total is set at 224.5 points. The Bucks average nearly 120 points per game and the Pistons average 108. Just hitting their season averages will get the Over in this game. The Pistons are 34-23 O/U this season. Milwaukee is closer to .500 at 27-26-1 O/U overall. Nineteen of Detroit’s 29 home games have gone Over.
Expect a big offensive performance from the Bucks and just enough from the Pistons to get the OVER 224.5 (-115).
Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @senorjessroot and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]