Milwaukee (35-12) at Oklahoma City (30-18)
When: Sunday, January 27th, 2019
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Time: 6:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Pickem/232.5
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been racking up the points lately and are finally getting a little defense to help out in their current four-game winning streak. They will conclude a three-game homestand against the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday afternoon, televised nationally on ESPN from Oklahoma City. The Thunder, who average just over 114 points on the season, have topped that mark in each of the last nine games, but have just a 5-4 record to show for it. OKC is averaging 122.3 points during the winning streak and improved to 16-7 at home with a 122-116 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday and are three games back of Denver in the Northwest Division. The Bucks are even hotter, riding a six game winning streak, but will begin a five-game road trip with their contest Sunday in Oklahoma City. The Bucks trailed 87-76 entering the fourth quarter on Friday versus the Charlotte Hornets and were down 12 with under 10 minutes to play before superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo took over the game, scoring 14 of his 34 points in the final period and outscoring the Hornets himself in the fourth, 14-12. The 108-99 victory improved the Bucks to 35-12 on the season and a one-game lead over the Raptors in the East – a team they will meet during the road trip. The road team took each of the two meetings last season, with the Bucks winning 97-95 at Oklahoma City.
Antetokounmpo added three blocks and three steals to his 34 points and 14 rebounds in the victory over Charlotte and leads the team in everything except assists and blocks. The Bucks now have the No. 1 defensive field goal percentage in the league at 43.0 and shoot an NBA fourth-best 48.0 percent on the offensive end. Four starters scored at least 15 points on Friday including Malcolm Brogdon, who has scored above his 15.7 point average in six of the last nine games. Center Thon Maker, who is averaging 4.7 points, reportedly requested a trade.
Star point guard Russell Westbrook is not having his best season, but is getting a lot of help around him, especially on Thursday versus the Pelicans. Six players scored in double-figures and all five starters recorded at least 14 points as the Thunder continue to pour in the points. Westbrook is shooting just 41.8 percent from the floor and 24.3 percent from three-point range, but had a big game Thursday with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 16 assists. Paul George made six of his 10 from long range on Thursday and has drained at least three from beyond the arc in each of the last six games.
Not only do the Bucks have the best record in the league, but they are tied with Golden State with the least amount of road losses (8). They are 3-1-1 ATS in the last five road games and have the defense that will slow down the Thunder in what should be an entertaining game.
Pick: Bucks +1.5
- Bucks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Sunday games.
- Bucks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Bucks are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
- Bucks are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
- Bucks are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Bucks are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Bucks are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Bucks are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games overall.
- Bucks are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Thunder are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Central.
- Thunder are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Thunder are 42-20-3 ATS in their last 65 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Thunder are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 Sunday games.
- Under is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 5-0 in Bucks last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 9-1 in Bucks last 10 Sunday games.
- Under is 7-1 in Bucks last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 overall.
- 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 9-3 in Bucks last 12 road games.
- Under is 15-5 in Bucks last 20 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-2 in Bucks last 8 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 15-7 in Bucks last 22 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 4-0 in Thunder last 4 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 5-0 in Thunder last 5 home games.
- Over is 8-1 in Thunder last 9 overall.
- Over is 8-1 in Thunder last 9 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-1 in Thunder last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Thunder last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Thunder last 6 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 4-1 in Thunder last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 8-3 in Thunder last 11 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 5-2 in Thunder last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 21-9 in Thunder last 30 vs. NBA Central.
- Under is 38-17 in Thunder last 55 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
- Favorite is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
- Bucks are 5-12 ATS in the last 17 meetings in Oklahoma City.
