NBA Betting Picks: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Milwaukee Bucks at Memphis Grizzlies
Wednesday, 12/19/12, 9:30 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Memphis -9
Current Betting Line: Memphis -9
Opening Total: 183.5
Current Total: 186
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Milwaukee Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last five games in Memphis

Milwaukee has won five of its last six games, including a 98-93 victory over the Indiana Pacers as 2.5-point home favorites last night, while going OVER the posted total for a second-straight contest. The Bucks were led by point guard Brandon Jennings, who scored a season-high 34 points. “Brandon was good from the get-go,” stated Bucks forward Mike Dunleavy. He is averaging 22.8 points in five career games in this series. Milwaukee is 0-3 ATS when playing on back-to-back days this year, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA picks against the spread.

The Bucks will be finishing up their fifth back-to-back set of the 2012-13 NBA season, as they’ve gone 2-2 in the second game thus far, averaging 93.3 points per game. Milwaukee suffered a 108-90 loss to Memphis as one-point home underdogs in the first meeting this year, while the UNDER has cashed in the last four games in this series.

Memphis has won back-to-back games since suffering through a three-game losing streak, coming off an 80-71 victory over the Chicago Bulls as 6.5-point home favorites, while going UNDER the total for a fifth consecutive affair. “We’ll take it,” commented Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph. The Grizzlies are shooting just 42.3 percent over their last five games, but continue to rely heavily on a defense that leads the NBA in surrendering just 90.0 points per game. Memphis is 8-3 ATS at home this season, something to consider when looking over the pro basketball odds page.

The Grizzlies are off to their best record in franchise history through 22 games, which is very impressive when you consider they’ve faced the league’s ninth-most difficult schedule. Memphis has won 21 of its last 23 games at FedExForum, which fits nicely with the team’s 7-3 ATS mark as a home favorite. It’s all about reaching 100 or more points for this squad, as it has won all nine games this season when doing so.