Houston (47-27) at Milwaukee (55-19)
When: Tuesday, March 26th, 2019
Where: Fiserv Forum,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -4.5/227
In a matchup of teams that could possibly meet in June’s NBA Finals, the Houston Rockets visit the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night on TNT. The Bucks are closing in on the top seed in the Eastern Conference and own a four-game lead over the Toronto Raptors, while the Rockets are fighting for a top three spot out West. Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo has returned from a two-game abscence (ankle) to post averages of 26.5 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in the past two games in leading his team to easy home victories over Miami and Cleveland after dropping a game versus the Cavaliers without him. The other star on the court tonight will be James Harden, who has helped the Rockets to wins in five of their last six. Houston is one game clear of fourth-place Portland entering Monday’s action and three games behind second-place Denver after a 113-90 road win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. Harden scored 28 points against the Pelicans after averaging 59 over the previous two games against San Antonio and Memphis. The Bucks took the first meeting this year in Houston 116-109 thanks to Antetokounmpo’s 27 points and career-high 21 rebounds.
Power forward Kenneth Faried posted yet another double-double in the win over New Orleans with 11 points and 11 boards in 24 minutes off the bench and now has 11 double-doubles in 21 games with Houston. The Rockets built a 19-point halftime lead versus the Pelicans and thus were able to limit starter minutes with Harden logging the most at 28:54 – his least since December 6th. Reserve guard Eric Gordon scored 18 points on six 3-pointers in 21 minutes Sunday and has recorded double digits in each of his past 11 games. Houston has a home date with Denver on Thursday before playing the Sacramento Kings twice in a row.
Milwaukee needs to get healthy before the playoffs start and really can’t afford another key injury with guard Malcolm Brogdon (foot) and forward Nikola Mirotic (thumb) already out. Veteran guard George Hill came back from a groin injury about the same time Brogdon went down and recorded his best game since with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting in 21 minutes versus the Cavaliers Sunday. Shooting guard Sterling Brown is also back from a long injury abscence and scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting against Cleveland in just 17 minutes off the bench. The Bucks will host the L.A. Clippers Thursday before playing three in a row on the road and then closing the season with three at home.
This is a great matchup here and normally I would go with the home team, but Houston is red-hot right now. They’ve won 14 of 16 with the only losses coming against Golden State and an overtime loss versus Memphis, which came on the second night of a back-to-back. The road team has covered the last three meetings in this series. Take the points.
Pick: Rockets +4
Rockets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Rockets are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Tuesday games.
Rockets are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Rockets are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Rockets are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 road games.
Rockets are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.
Rockets are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Rockets are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games following a ATS win.
Bucks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 Tuesday games.
Bucks are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Bucks are 17-6 ATS in their last 23 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 10-1 in Rockets last 11 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 vs. NBA Central.
Under is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 games following a ATS win.
Under is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 road games.
Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 8-2 in Rockets last 10 games following a straight up win.
Under is 7-2 in Rockets last 9 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 15-5-1 in Rockets last 21 overall.
Under is 6-2 in Rockets last 8 Tuesday games.
Under is 15-5-1 in Rockets last 21 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 47-23-1 in Rockets last 71 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 4-0 in Bucks last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 7-2 in Bucks last 9 games following a straight up win.
Over is 7-2 in Bucks last 9 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 12-4 in Bucks last 16 vs. NBA Southwest.
Over is 6-2 in Bucks last 8 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
