LA Clippers (16-6) at Milwaukee (19-3)
When: Friday, December 6th, 2019
Where: Fiserv Forum,
Milwaukee, WI
Time: 8:35 ET | TV: Prime Ticket
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -5/232.5
Two of the hottest teams in the NBA will square-off Friday night in Milwaukee as the Bucks host the Los Angeles Clippers in a possible Finals preview, as both were preseason favorites to win their respective conferences. We are approaching almost a full calendar month (Nov. 8) since the last time the Bucks suffered a defeat when they fell 103-100 at Utah during the middle of a tough road trip. Since then, Milwaukee has won 13 in a row including a dominant 127-103 road win at Detroit on Wednesday and the only time they’ve lost at Fiserv Forum was the home opener on Oct. 26 in overtime to Miami. The Clippers are right behind the Bucks in terms of a hot streak, winning nine of their past 10 games after a 117-97 home win over the Portland Trail Blazers despite just 11 points and 3-of-15 shooting from star Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers are second in the Western Conference to Staples Center mates the Lakers, trailing them by three full games entering Thursday’s action. Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated the Clippers with 38 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists in a 129-124 win on Nov. 6 in Los Angeles when Leonard sat out. That was the second straight win for the Bucks in the series after the Clippers had taken the previous three, who are 4-0-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
This is the start of a grueling stretch in which the Clippers play nine of their next 11 games on the road, capped by a date with the Lakers on Christmas Day as the away team in their own building. They should be well-rested for this contest as no starter played more than 29 minutes in the blowout win over Portland the other day. Backup power forward Montrezl Harrell led all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting, while Patrick Patterson went 5-for-7 from beyond the arc while scoring 19 points off the bench. Forward Paul George had 25 points in 29 minutes, as Leonard and sixth man Lou Williams (nine points on 4-of-14 shooting) struggled. Williams and Harrell each scored 34 points in last month’s loss to the Bucks – the output was a career best for Harrell that he has since tied (Nov. 24 vs. New Orleans). L.A. will be at Washington on Sunday.
Milwaukee’s No. 1 scoring offense didn’t miss a beat without Khris Middleton, but the forward has been back for the last five games of this long winning streak and has reached double digits in all five since returning from a thigh injury. Milwaukee is three wins away from matching a franchise record 16 wins in a row that spanned the end of the 1972-73 season and the beginning of the 1973-74 campaign. With Middleton back in the lineup, the Bucks have been unstoppable, winning the last three games by 41, 44 and 24 points. The Bucks defend well also, ranking second in the league in defensive field goal percentage at 41.6, but are 24th in defending the perimeter (37.1 percent).
This could very well be a Finals preview and a lot can change between now and then, but I think the Bucks are a little better right now. You can’t ignore 13 wins in a row and they’re only laying 3.5 points at home. I have to take it.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Friday. He is 26-16-2 on the season!
Pick: Bucks -3.5
Clippers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 2 days rest.
Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite.
Clippers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Clippers are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 Friday games.
Bucks are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 Friday games.
Bucks are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Bucks are 29-12-1 ATS in their last 42 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Bucks are 17-8-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a ATS win.
Bucks are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 7-1 in Clippers last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 6-1 in Clippers last 7 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 20-8 in Clippers last 28 games as a road underdog.
Under is 7-3 in Clippers last 10 games following a straight up win.
Under is 19-9 in Clippers last 28 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-2 in Bucks last 7 games following a ATS win.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Clippers are 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Milwaukee.
