Denver (10-6) at Milwaukee (11-4)
When: Monday, November 19th, 2018
Where: Fiserv Forum,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: Altitude, FS Wisconsin
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -4.5/222
The Milwaukee Bucks will continue their long six-game homestand on Monday when they host a Denver Nuggets team that they beat once already this season, while at the same time, maintaining their lead in the Central Division. The Bucks surged to a 7-0 start, but have now traded wins and losses over the last eight games and are trying to get back to more consistent winning. The Nuggets also started out hot, but have really been slumping lately, dropping five of their last six and are in the middle of three-game road trip. The first leg of the trek didn’t go so well, as the Nuggets dropped a 125-115 decision in New Orleans on Saturday. The Bucks fell to the Memphis Grizzlies in their latest outing to suffer their first home loss on Wednesday but bounced back with a dominating second-half performance against the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Milwaukee trailed the Bulls by 18 points going into the half but ended up with a 123-104 victory – and cover – sparked by a 46-point third quarter. Milwaukee also used a big third quarter at Denver on November 11th, with center Brook Lopez draining six of his eight 3-pointers in the period to help Milwaukee to a 121-114 win. The Bucks have the No. 1 scoring offense in the league at 121.1 point a game, while Denver is fourth in scoring defense (104.6).
Denver allowed 23 second-chance points to the Pelicans on Saturday and will need a more consistent effort from their starters when going up for rebounds. Starting power forward Paul Millsap finished with one rebound on Saturday, marking the second time in three games that he managed one or no boards. Denver did get double-digit rebounds from starters Juancho Hernangomez and Nikola Jokic and the latter leads the team with 10.3 per game, while also pacing the Nuggets in points (17.6), assists (7.0), and field goal percentage (51.8).
First-year head coach Mike Budenholzer has already earned the respect of the players. “Coach came in and he let us know we weren’t putting enough effort and energy into the game and we had no pace on offense – we were trying to do it ourselves,” superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters. Antetokounmpo finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the win over Chicago and is averaging 25.6 points on 55.8 percent shooting this season. Small forward Khris Middleton is averaging 23 points on 25-of-43 shooting over the last three games.
Denver is really in a funk. Their only win in the last six games came against the lowly Atlanta Hawks, while Milwaukee has impressive wins over New Orleans, Golden State, and these Denver Nuggets – all on the road. The Bucks do play well at home as well, going 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine at Fiserv Forum. I’ll lay the points.
Pick: Bucks -5
- Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Nuggets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Nuggets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Nuggets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Nuggets are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
- Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Central.
- Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Nuggets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Bucks are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 home games.
- Bucks are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Bucks are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 Monday games.
- Bucks are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Bucks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. Western Conference.
- Bucks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Bucks are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall.
- Bucks are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Bucks are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Bucks are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
- Bucks are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Over is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 9-1-1 in Nuggets last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Nuggets last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 9-2 in Nuggets last 11 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Nuggets last 6 road games.
- Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 8-2-1 in Nuggets last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 15-6 in Nuggets last 21 vs. NBA Central.
- Under is 9-4-1 in Nuggets last 14 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 vs. Western Conference.
- Over is 24-5 in Bucks last 29 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 14-3 in Bucks last 17 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Over is 17-4 in Bucks last 21 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 Monday games.
- Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 23-6 in Bucks last 29 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 16-5 in Bucks last 21 home games.
- Over is 9-3 in Bucks last 12 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
- Over is 20-7 in Bucks last 27 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 19-7 in Bucks last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 37-14 in Bucks last 51 overall.
- Over is 46-19-1 in Bucks last 66 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 45-21-1 in Bucks last 67 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Milwaukee.
- Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Milwaukee.
- Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
- Road team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
