Milwaukee (44-7) at Orlando (22-30)
When: Saturday, February 8th, 2020
Where: Amway Center,
Orlando, FL
Time: 5:05 ET | TV: FS Florida
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -8.5/218
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is already having another MVP-type season, but he has been even better lately, chasing down milestones last accomplished by the great Wilt Chamberlain. Antetokounmpo and the Bucks look to stay hot when they take a one-game road trip to Orlando to battle the injury-plagued Magic on Saturday evening. The Bucks won their third game in a row and 17th of 19th Thursday night on the TNT stage against the Philadelphia 76ers. Antetokounmpo recorded 36 points, 20 rebounds and six assists, and is averaging 30.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists overall. The Magic meanwhile, are struggling to get healthy players on the court and dropped a back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday to the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks on the road. Orlando’s 21 turnovers on Thursday at Madison Square Garden was the difference in the 105-103 setback, their seventh loss in eight games. The Magic’s record against the spread in those contests mirrors their straight-up record (1-7), but they still own the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. This will be the fourth and final meeting this season between the teams, but if the playoff seeding holds, they’ll be meeting in the first round come April. Milwaukee has won all three thus far including a 123-91 triumph in Orlando back on Nov. 1.
Antetokounmpo is getting help from everyone and doesn’t have to carry the load on this very deep team. Shooting guard Wesley Matthews is heating up by hitting 7-of-12 from beyond the arc in the last two contests, scoring 17 points on Tuesday versus New Orleans – his highest output since before Christmas. Wilt Chamberlain was the last player to post five consecutive games of at least 30 points, 15 rebounds and five assists until the Greek Freak tied him on Thursday. The Bucks didn’t do anything at the trade deadline – and why would they? Before Thursday’s win over the 76ers, Antetokounmpo drafted his All-Star team and one of his selections was teammate Khris Middleton, who scored 20 points on Thursday. The Bucks return home for one game on Monday against Sacramento.
D.J. Augustin, Al-Farouq Aninu, and Jonathan Isaac are all out with knee issues and the Magic will need them in order to maintain a playoff spot. Orlando added forward James Ennis from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a second-round draft pick on Thursday and should at least bring some experience to the club. Center Nikola Vucevic led five players in double-figures with 25 points in the loss to the Knicks and has scored 20 or more in three of his last four games. Shooting guard Terrence Ross scored 10 points, but his long range shooting has gone cold – 4-for-17 over the last two games. Orlando will host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
The Bucks have the most double-digit wins in the league and that’s what they’ll need to do to cover this spread on Saturday. Antetokounmpo is playing out of his mind and I don’t see him or the Bucks slowing down. Look for an easy win here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Saturday. He is 56-48-3 (54%) on the season after a 9-5 run!
Pick: Bucks -8.5
Bucks are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games.
Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 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 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Bucks are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Bucks are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Magic are 7-18-2 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Magic are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Magic are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Magic are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Magic are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a home underdog.
Magic are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Magic are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Magic are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Magic are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Magic are 0-9 ATS in their last 9 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Magic are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Magic are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Magic are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games.
Magic are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Magic are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.
Under is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 games as a road favorite.
Under is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 road games.
Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 Saturday games.
Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Over is 19-7-1 in Bucks last 27 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 5-2 in Bucks last 7 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-0 in Magic last 4 Saturday games.
Under is 3-0-1 in Magic last 4 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 7-1-1 in Magic last 9 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 6-1-1 in Magic last 8 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 4-1-1 in Magic last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1-1 in Magic last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 23-7 in Magic last 30 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 6-2-2 in Magic last 10 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-2 in Magic last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-1 in Magic last 5 games as an underdog.
Under is 19-7-1 in Magic last 27 home games.
Under is 15-6-2 in Magic last 23 overall.
Under is 27-11 in Magic last 38 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 49-24-1 in Magic last 74 games as a home underdog.
Over is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings in Orlando.
Under is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings.
