Philadelphia (44-25) at Milwaukee (52-17)
When: Sunday, March 17th, 2019
Where: Fiserv Forum,
Milwaukee, WI
Time: 3:35 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -7/231.5
Two of the East’s best will battle Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee as the Bucks host the Philadelphia 76ers on ABC. Milwaukee has controlled the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference standings for most of the season and are looking to hold their three-game lead over the Toronto Raptors with just a dozen games left. The Bucks are coming off a very strange game on Friday in Miami in which they trailed by 20 at halftime and ended up winning by 15 – the first time in franchise history that has happened on the road. That was Milwaukee’s fourth win in five games (4-1 ATS) as they prepare for a string of losing teams on their schedule after Sunday. The Bucks play 13 more games – including Sunday – and four of them will be against Cleveland and Atlanta (twice each). The 76ers are out to prove they belong in the championship conversation – and when healthy – can be. Philly is holding onto the No. 3 spot in the East – one-half game ahead of Indiana – after a 123-114 home win over Sacramento on Friday for their third straight victory. This is the second of three season meetings between the two and Milwaukee took the first one at home easily 123-108 way back in October. They will also play again on April 4th in Philadelphia.
The duo of shooting guard Jimmy Butler and All-Star center Joel Embiid have been as good as advertised lately with the former recording 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting, seven assists, and six rebounds in Friday’s win. Embiid missed several games after the break with knee issues, but has played in the last three, averaging 23.6 points and 16.0 rebounds and recording a double-double in each. Backup center Boban Marjanovic is shooting 70 percent from the field in 12 games since being acquired from the L.A. Clippers. Philly will play nine of their final 13 games on the road, but will get Atlanta and Chicago twice each.
Milwaukee’s historic rally on Friday was led by who other than Giannis Antetokounmpo, who recorded 33 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists. Shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon played just six minutes before injuring his heel and will not play on Sunday. All-Star Khris Middleton picked up the slack with 21 points and eight assists as the Bucks outscored Miami 71-36 after the break. Milwaukee will host LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers on Tuesday.
Philly has not been a very good cover team on the road against good teams and are just 13-19 ATS away from home overall. The home team in this series has won and covered each of the last five meetings. Make it six on Sunday.
Pick: Bucks -6.5
76ers are 6-15 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
76ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
76ers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
76ers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 20-6-2 ATS in their last 28 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bucks are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Bucks are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games playing on 1 days rest.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bucks are 16-7-1 ATS in their last 24 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-0 in 76ers last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 4-0 in 76ers last 4 road games.
Under is 4-0 in 76ers last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 6-0 in 76ers last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 5-0 in 76ers last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 7-1 in 76ers last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 17-5 in 76ers last 22 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 19-7 in 76ers last 26 overall.
Under is 6-0 in Bucks last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 7-1 in Bucks last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 10-2 in Bucks last 12 Sunday games.
Over is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 games following a straight up win.
Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 20-8 in Bucks last 28 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Under is 7-3 in Bucks last 10 home games.
Home team is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Favorite is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Milwaukee.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
76ers are 3-7 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Milwaukee.
76ers are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
