NBA: Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers Preview, Odds, Prediction

The Milwaukee Bucks head to Pennsylvania to meet the Philadelphia 76ers in what appears to be the central match of Wednesday’s NBA program. Two teams that aim to win not only the conference but the title as well will clash and see where they stand at the moment. Philly is handicapped, as Joel Embiid sits out due to his injury. Though they would win the last two even without him. As for the Bucks, Mike Budenholzer’s boys are slowly going up, posting four in a row, and looking very well since the All-Star break ended.

Preview

Milwaukee Bucks (25-14, -220) have just one defeat in the past 10 games, which happened at home against the Denver Nuggets. Apart from that event, Giannis and the crew looked very good, not allowing any team to impose its own game against them and being more than confident in each victory.

The latest two were against the Washington Wizards, both in DC. The First was 125-119, and the second, 133-122. Just to mention that six of those nine wins saw the Bucks dropping 120+ points. Giannis had a triple-double in both these games, and he currently has three contests in a row with such figures.

Apart from him, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez were very good in the latest game. Middleton had 23 points and five boards, while Lopez scored 22 buckets with seven boards and four blocks as well. Jrue Holiday is slowly getting back in shape, dropping 15 with six boards and four dimes.

Philadelphia 76ers (28-12, +190) are underdogs, despite being first and playing at home. Yet, that is the price when you appear without Joel Embiid, who was the top favorite to take the MVP honors before getting injured.

The 76ers played against New York Knicks in the last game, and barely won it, 99-96, after a superb final period in which they outscored the guests from the Big Apple, 26-14. Philly would trail throughout the entire game, with the Knicks lowering the tempo of play which didn’t suit well for the hosts.

Tobias Harris scored 30 points, hitting four threes and grabbing six boards, while Seth Curry also had four threes only for 20 points. Ben Simmons was all around as usual, with 16 buckets, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Dwight Howard gave excellent support off the bench, with the veteran adding a double-double, 11 points, and 12 rebounds.

Head to Head Games

This will be the first game between these teams this season. During the previous one, Bucks won two, and the 76ers just one contest.

Prediction

The Bucks really are the favorites after seeing the 76ers playing against the Knicks. Without Embiid, it would be very tough for them to challenge the guests from Wisconsin, who are coming to town fired up after countless wins in the recent three or four weeks. Jrue Holiday is back in the saddle, and that is a great thing for Milwaukee; plus, they had enough time to prepare and rest for this match, unlike the home team, who will have another tough matchup in less than 24 hours. So we are all in for the Bucks in this one.

Pick: Milwaukee