Philadelphia (31-20) at Milwaukee (43-7)
When: Thursday, February 6th, 2020
Where: Fiserv Forum,
Milwaukee, WI
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -9/227
The Philadelphia 76ers have the worst road record of any team in the top eight of their respective conferences and they have the monumental task of snapping a three-game losing streak when they visit the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night. All-Star center Joel Embiid called out his team to reporters on Wednesday saying the Sixers don’t have an offensive identity right now. Embiid is in one of the worst stretches of his career, finishing with 11 points on 1-for-11 shooting to go with 5 rebounds, 4 turnovers and a game-worst minus-25 in 23 minutes in Saturday’s 116-95 loss at the Boston Celtics. “Spacing is an issue,” he said. “Sometimes we play fast, sometimes we play slow. But at the end of the day, when you think about it and as we try to get ready for the playoffs, the game slows down. It becomes a half-court game, and that’s where we struggle the most. So hopefully we do a better job the next few games.” The Bucks have no such worries, recording wins in 16 of their last 18 games and the defense has been spectacular. Milwaukee held rookie Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans to 38.4 percent shooting in the 120-108 triumph on Tuesday and limited the Phoenix Suns to 39.4 percent in a blowout win Sunday. The 76ers took the first meeting on Christmas Day 121-109 behind a double-double from Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Al Horford.
Monday’s setback was the worst of the season for Philadelphia and dropped the team to sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings, 12.5 games behind Milwaukee. Simmons also made comments about his team right after the 137-106 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday, calling his team “soft”. Simmons recorded 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, but was a team-worst -31. Small forward Tobias Harris scored a season-low six points on 3-of-12 shooting Monday, but Mike Scott scored 17 points – his second-highest output of the season. The Sixers, who are 9-18 away from home, will begin a four-game homestand on Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was his usual dominant-self with 34 points on 12-of-17 shooting, 17 rebounds and six assists, but shooting guard Wesley Matthews also came up big with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting Tuesday. Antetokounmpo has recorded at least 30 points, 16 rebounds and six assists in each of his last four games for a Bucks team that ranks No. 1 in the league at 120.0 points per contest. The Bucks will be at the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
The Sixers have too much talent to be playing this badly and with their two stars calling out the team, it might get them going in the right direction. Milwaukee will probably win this game, but Philly will keep it respectable.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Thursday. He is 55-47-3 (54%) on the season after a 8-4 run!
Pick: 76ers +9
76ers are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 Thursday games.
76ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
76ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
76ers are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up loss.
76ers are 6-18-2 ATS in their last 26 road games.
76ers are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 2 days rest.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
76ers are 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
76ers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
76ers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog.
76ers are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Bucks are 19-8 ATS in their last 27 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-0 in 76ers last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 7-1 in 76ers last 8 games as an underdog.
Under is 7-1 in 76ers last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 games as a road underdog.
Under is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 9-2 in 76ers last 11 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
Under is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 7-3 in 76ers last 10 road games.
Under is 9-4 in 76ers last 13 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-0 in Bucks last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 games as a home favorite.
Over is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 home games.
Over is 5-2 in Bucks last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Bucks last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Milwaukee.
Over is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.
