Milwaukee (42-7) at New Orleans (20-30)
When: Tuesday, February 4th, 2020
Where: Smoothie King Center,
New Orleans, LA
Time: 7:35 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -6/245
Two of the best young stars in the NBA will meet for the first time on Tuesday night in front of a national TV audience when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks visit Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. Milwaukee is four games better than any other team in the league at 42-7 and rebounded from a rare loss with a 129-108 thumping of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday for their 11th win in 12 games. Milwaukee has been a double-digit favorite in eight straight contests, but have managed to go just 4-4 ATS in that span. They come into New Orleans as 6-point favorites and easily won the first meeting this season 127-112 on Dec. 11. The Pelicans are slowly climbing up the standings but saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Sunday with a 117-109 road loss to the Houston Rockets. The loss keeps New Orleans in 13th place in the Western Conference, 4.5 games behind eighth place Memphis. It was Williamson’s fifth game and he recorded his second double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds) in a season-high 33 minutes. He was still rehabbing from his knee injury when the Pelicans lost to Milwaukee back in December. It was the Bucks’ 16th win in a row at the time and New Orleans’ 10th straight loss. Giannis got the night off with a right quad tendon injury and Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton both had 24 points to lead the Bucks. J.J. Redick had 31 points to lead the Pelicans, while Brandon Ingram 25 points and 10 rebounds. New Orleans has covered four of the past six in the series.
Antetokounmpo recorded 30 points and 19 rebounds in the win over the Suns, while fellow All-Star Middleton had 25 points. It was the 73rd straight game the Bucks scored in triple digits and the 12th time this season that Antetokounmpo had a 30/15 game – most in the NBA. The Bucks, who lead the league in scoring at 120.0, actually have a magic number to clinch a playoff spot at eight. Remarkable considering we’re not even at the All-Star Break. Backup point guard George Hill missed his second in a row with a strained right hamstring and is questionable for Tuesday. The Bucks, who are 16-3 against Western Conference opponents, will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.
Ingram, who was named an All-Star for the first time, continued his stellar play with 28 points and 12 rebounds in the loss to Houston on Sunday. Despite Zion’s limited minutes, he managed to become the first rookie to score 20 or more points four times in his first six games since Damian Lillard in the 2012-13 season. Lonzo Ball was one assist shy of a triple-double (10 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists). New Orleans has been one of the best bets in the NBA over the last month and a half, covering 15 of its past 20. The Pelicans will be at the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Milwaukee is the best team in the league, but they don’t cover every game and this Pelicans team will give them all they can handle. I expect this one to go down to the wire. Take the points.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Tuesday. He is 55-45-3 (55%) on the season after a 8-2 run!
Pick: Pelicans +6
Bucks are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 Tuesday games.
Bucks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Bucks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Bucks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 18-8 ATS in their last 26 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Pelicans are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss.
Pelicans are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Pelicans are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 games as an underdog.
Pelicans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Pelicans are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games.
Pelicans are 14-4-1 ATS in their last 19 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 games overall.
Pelicans are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a home underdog.
Pelicans are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 1 days rest.
Pelicans are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Pelicans are 35-17 ATS in their last 52 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 Tuesday games.
Over is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 games as a road favorite.
Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 road games.
Over is 16-5 in Bucks last 21 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Over is 8-3 in Bucks last 11 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Bucks last 7 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Under is 15-6 in Bucks last 21 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Under is 5-1 in Pelicans last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 13-3 in Pelicans last 16 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 8-2 in Pelicans last 10 home games.
Over is 11-3 in Pelicans last 14 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 14-4 in Pelicans last 18 overall.
Over is 14-4 in Pelicans last 18 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-2 in Pelicans last 9 games as an underdog.
Over is 13-4 in Pelicans last 17 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 12-4 in Pelicans last 16 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-4-1 in Pelicans last 14 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 21-8 in the last 29 meetings.
Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in New Orleans.
