Milwaukee (53-9) at LA Lakers (47-13)
When: Friday, March 6th, 2020
Where: Staples Center,
Los Angeles, CA
Time: 10:35 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Pickem/227
Who wants to see the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals this June? Count me in for sure! We get a nice preview on Friday night over on ESPN when the Lakers host the Bucks from Staples Center looking to even the season series. Both teams are in first place in their respective conferences and both teams are favored to advance to the finals, according to the odds. The Bucks’ offense rebounded from back-to-back sub-100 games with a 119-100 triumph at home versus the Indiana Pacers and lead the Eastern Conference by 9.5 games entering Thursday’s action. The Lakers are 5.5 up on the L.A. Clippers prior to Thursday and will play six of their next seven games at Staples Center with one of them as a road team against the Clippers. The Bucks edged the Lakers 111-104 back on Dec. 19 and have won six in a row against L.A., going 5-1 ATS in that span. The Bucks are an incredible 53-9 on the season and 36-26 against the spread. They’re 14-8 against teams with a winning record but are just 11-11 ATS in those contests and are a perfect 7-0 SU against Pacific Division opponents, including 5-2 ATS. The Lakers are 47-13 on the year and are 33-26 ATS, while going 16-9 against teams with a winning record, covering the spread in 14 of those contests.
The Bucks lost in Miami on Monday but with the win over Indiana on Wednesday, maintain their perfect streak so far this season of never having lost back-to-back games. Miami scored 54 points from beyond the arc while the Bucks had just 21. Milwaukee gives up the second-fewest points per game but are not very good at defending the perimeter. The Bucks are ranked 17th in the NBA in terms of opponent three-point field goal percentage (35.6%). If the playoffs started today, that would be the third-worst mark among the 16 playoff participants. The good news is the Lakers are just an average three-point shooting team. Antetokounmpo drained a career-high five 3-pointers and recorded 34 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists when Milwaukee beat the Lakers back in December. Reserve guard George Hill (groin) sat out Wednesday’s win but is expected to be available on Friday. The Bucks will be at the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
The Lakers have won 11 of their last 13 games and five of their last six victories have come by eight points or more. Anthony Davis and LeBron James had 57 points in the first meeting with Milwaukee, while Danny Green had 21, hitting 7-of-12 from three-point range. The rest of the team had a total of 26 points while shooting 39 percent from the field. The bench had just four points in that game, proving the Bucks have a deeper squad. James had 21 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the first contest against Milwaukee while Davis posted 36 points and 10 rebounds. Both are coming off big games on Tuesday as Davis recorded 37 points and 13 rebounds and James added 22 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds in the win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Lakers will play the Clippers on Sunday.
The Bucks have a better team overall because of the their depth, but James and Davis have really been clicking lately. LeBron has really stepped up when opposing good teams and I’m calling for a close Lakers win here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Friday. He is 69-55-3 on the season after a 10-4 run!
Pick: Lakers PK
Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bucks are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games as a road underdog.
Bucks are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 21-8 ATS in their last 29 Friday games.
Bucks are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games overall.
Bucks are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games as an underdog.
Bucks are 27-11 ATS in their last 38 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
Bucks are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite.
Lakers are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 Friday games.
Lakers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Lakers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Lakers are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 5-0 in Bucks last 5 overall.
Under is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 games following a straight up win.
Under is 6-0 in Bucks last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 6-2 in Bucks last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-3 in Bucks last 11 road games.
Over is 16-7 in Bucks last 23 games as an underdog.
Over is 5-1 in Lakers last 6 Friday games.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
Over is 8-2 in Lakers last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-2 in Lakers last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 14-6 in Lakers last 20 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-3 in Lakers last 10 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 42-20 in Lakers last 62 games as a home favorite.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.
Bucks are 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
