Milwaukee Bucks at San Antonio Spurs
Wednesday, 12/15/10, 8:30 PM EDT
Opening Point Spread: San Antonio -9
Current Betting Line: San Antonio -8.5
Opening Total: 190
Current Total: 190
Milwaukee ended Dallas’ 12-game winning streak with a 103-99 road victory on Monday and now looks to ruin San Antonio’s chance for a perfect homestand. “We’re starting to play better basketball,” said center Andrew Bogut. “We’re starting to buy into what the coaches want us to do, what we need to do to win games.” The Bucks win against the Mavericks was surprising due to the franchise’s last win in Dallas coming on December 30, 2002. The team has won three-straight games and four of its last five contest, holding four of the five under their season averages for scoring. Milwaukee is allowing just 93.2 points per game this season and the defensive unit will be tested against the fourth-highest scoring team in the league tonight. The squad is 2-8-1 ATS versus the Western Conference and a underdog on the NBA lines page.
The Bucks may have victories in four of their last five games, but the team is outscoring foes by just 2.6 points a game over that span. Milwaukee is also an even 2-2 against Southwest Division opponents during the 2010-11 campaign, picking up victories in the last two contests. It’s important to note that the entire month will be a test for this Eastern Conference up-and-comer, with 11 of their 13 opponents this month featuring a .500 or better record. Tonight’s game is the second in a five-game span against teams that have a combined record of 86-36.
San Antonio is starting to show its old self on defense and picked up a 95-78 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in its last contest. “Sunday was a good performance defensively,” said coach Gregg Popovich. “That’s something to enjoy, but we have a ways to go.” The Spurs also extended its win streak to five games with the victory, with the last four coming by double digits. The team is 12-2 overall at home this season, including a perfect 6-0 mark at home. San Antonio is 15-7 ATS overall this season and 3-0 ATS versus Central division opponents.
The Spurs own the all-time edge over the Bucks, 37-35 after winning the last two meetings. San Antonio swept the series last season, collecting a 112-98 victory at home and a 112-97 decision in Milwaukee. For the series during the 2009-10 campaign, forward Tim Duncan averaged 25.0 points and 11.0 rebounds, but he will likely not reach those marks on Wednesday night. The perennial All-Star is averaging a career-low 28.7 minutes, but that has been planned to keep him fresh for the playoffs. San Antonio’s 20-3 record through the first 23 games of the season is the best 23-game start in franchise history.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Bucks are 17-7 ATS as a road underdog, while the Spurs are 12-3-1 ATS versus the Eastern Conference.
