The Milwaukee Bucks (30-17) are playing their third of a six-game West Coast road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers (29-18) Friday at Moda Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Bucks-Trail Blazers odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
Milwaukee snapped a three-game losing skid by beating up on an injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers 112-97, covering as an 8.5-point road favorite.
The Bucks have dealt with players going in and out of the lineup in recent games but won eight in a row from March 4-24.
Portland just swept its four-game Eastern Conference road swing with the latest being a 23-point drubbing of the Detroit Pistons Wednesday.
Since SG C.J. McCollum returned on March 16, the Blazers are 7-2 straight-up (SU) and 4-3 against the spread (ATS).
A fully-loaded Bucks team trampled the Blazers, 134-106, who were without McCollum and C Jusuf Nurkic in their first meeting this season.
Bucks at Trail Blazers: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:12 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Bucks -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Trail Blazers +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Against the spread/ATS: Bucks -2.5 (-110) | Trail Blazers +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 238.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Bucks at Trail Blazers: Key injuries
Bucks
- PG Bobby Portis (health and safety protocols) questionable
- PF P.J. Tucker (calf) out
Trail Blazers
- PF Zach Collins (ankle) out
- PF Nassir Little (thumb) out
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Bucks at Trail Blazers: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Trail Blazers 122, Bucks 117
Money line (ML)
Slight “LEAN” towards TRAIL BLAZERS (+115) because I “LIKE” them to cover the spread, but Portland plus the points is a much better wager.
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Against the spread (ATS)
Definitely BET TRAIL BLAZERS +2.5 (-110) heavier than or instead of their money line. By the way, it’s impressive Portland is seeded sixth currently in the West given its injury issues.
McCollum scores 24.2 points per game and Nurkic is second on the team in on-off court net rating (excluding SG Norm Powell, who has played only three games).
It’s not a coincidence that the best offenses in the Association are good 3-point shooting teams and Milwaukee allows the second-most 3-points attempts per game and is 20th in defensive 3-point percentage.
Furthermore, the Bucks’ defense has regressed season over season and it gets exposed against quality offensive teams.
Milwaukee is 6-7 SU with the second-worst ATS margin (minus-7 points) vs. top-10 offenses in points per 100 possessions, according to CleaningTheGlass.com.
BET TRAIL BLAZERS +2.5 (-110) for 1 unit.
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS because my predicted score is way too close to BetMGM‘s projected total so there isn’t a lot of value in betting it.
If anything, I’d “lean” Under because if this game is close like bookmakers are projecting it to be, I could see this game slowing down at the end of halves.
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Also see:
- Bet Slippin’ Podcast: 2021 MLB American League Betting Preview
- Hoops Hype rumors: Bucks | Trail Blazers
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