Denver (31-26) at Milwaukee (32-24)
When: Thursday, February 15th 2018
Where: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: Altitude, FS Wisconsin
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -4.5/210.5
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A couple of hot teams will try and end the first half with continued momentum as the Denver Nuggets visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night – the last night of NBA games before the All-Star Break. The Nuggets have won five of their last six and are coming off a solid 117-109 victory over San Antonio at home Tuesday night. Denver has recorded at least 115 points in each of those five wins, although the defense tightened up in the fourth quarter to help fend off the Spurs, holding them to 19 points in the decisive frame. Nikola Jokic has led the Nuggets’ offensive surge and recorded his fourth triple-double of the season with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists against the Spurs. Denver entered Wednesday’s action in sixth place in the West but only three games behind third-place San Antonio. The Bucks are only two games out of third in the East after a 97-92 home victory over Atlanta on Tuesday in which they held off a furious Hawks rally in the fourth quarter. Since taking over for Jason Kidd, head coach Joe Prunty has led the Bucks to wins in nine of his 11 games. Denver swept the two-game season series a year ago, while averaging 115.5 points in the process.
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Jokic is averaging almost a triple-double in six February games – 20.2 points, 11.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists – and he’s made 10-of-20 3-pointers this month. Shooting guard Jamal Murray contributed 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 38 minutes despite being a game-time decision because of a chest ailment. Fellow shooing guard Will Barton is averaging 20.6 points in his team’s five wins this month, but scored just six points while shooting 2-for-8 in the one loss (@Houston). All five starters scored at least 15 points in the win over San Antonio, but the defense still needs to improve on their 47.8% field goal percentage (29th). Denver will get another shot at the Spurs when play resumes next Thursday.
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Khris Middleton led five Bucks in double figures with 21 points against Atlanta, while reserve center Tyler Zeller made his home debut since being traded from Brooklyn last week and recorded 14 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes. Reserve power forward Jabari Parker has a total of 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting over his last two games as he continues his comeback from ACL surgery, but he had 27 points and 11 boards in his one meeting with Denver last season. The Bucks still struggle at shooting the three, going 8-for-25 against Atlanta and ranking 25th in the league in that department. All-Star PF Giannis Antetokounmpo had 15 rebounds against Atlanta and is averaging 14.3 over his last four home games.
This is a good matchup of a couple of young teams on the rise and I wish they made this a national TV game. Denver is one of the best home teams in the league, but that also makes them one of the worst on the road. These teams have almost identical reverse splits with the Nuggets 8-19 away from home and Milwaukee 19-9 at the Bradley Center. I’ll take the home team here.
Pick: Bucks -3
- Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games.
- Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Nuggets are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 vs. NBA Central.
- Nuggets are 5-2-2 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Nuggets are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Bucks are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Bucks are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Bucks are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 home games.
- Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Bucks are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
- Over is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 9-2 in Nuggets last 11 Thursday games.
- Over is 9-2 in Nuggets last 11 vs. NBA Central.
- Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
- Under is 5-0 in Bucks last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 5-0 in Bucks last 5 home games.
- Under is 5-0 in Bucks last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 10-1 in Bucks last 11 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 12-2 in Bucks last 14 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 10-2 in Bucks last 12 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 13-3 in Bucks last 16 Thursday games.
- Under is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Over is 14-4 in Bucks last 18 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 16-5 in Bucks last 21 overall.
- Under is 16-5 in Bucks last 21 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Milwaukee.
- Nuggets are 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
- Nuggets are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Milwaukee.
