NBA Expert Picks: Utah Jazz vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are 10-18-1 ATS at home this season

Utah Jazz at Milwaukee Bucks
Monday, 3/4/13, 8:00 PM EST, TV: FSWI
Opening Point Spread: Milwaukee -4.5
Current Betting Line: Milwaukee -4.5
Opening Total: 202
Current Total: 201.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Utah snapped a three-game losing streak last time out, as it picked up a 98-68 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats as nine-point home favorites last Friday, while the UNDER has cashed in two consecutive contests. “I thought we did a much better job than in previous games,” commented Jazz guard Gordon Hayward. The Jazz are 10-19 overall on the road this season, including a 6-5 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents. Utah is 4-2 SUATS when playing with two days rest, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA expert picks Monday night.

The Jazz could be without two starters in this affair, as both Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are listed as game-time decisions. Both players finished with 19 points in a 100-86 home win over Milwaukee on Feb. 6. It’s important to note that the franchise has won 13 of its last 15 games in this series, which has played a major part in its 17-4 ATS mark in the last 21 meetings overall.

Milwaukee has won three games in a row, including a 122-114 victory over the Toronto Raptors as 6.5-point home favorites last Saturday, while going OVER the posted total of 199.5. The Bucks have been led by guard Monta Ellis on the offensive end in that span, as he’s averaged 24.0 points. “I’m just taking what the defense is giving me,” stated Ellis over the weekend. He combines with point guard Brandon Jennings to contribute 36.9 points per game. Milwaukee is 10-18-1 ATS at home this season, which is important to consider when looking over the NBA betting lines.

The Bucks were very happy with Jennings last performance against the Raptors, as he finished with a career-high 19 assists. Milwaukee is second in the league in averaging 7.35 blocked shots per game, which is two spots higher than Utah (6.46). In the three games prior to the trade deadline, the squad was average 17.0 points per game from its bench, but that number has risen to 38.3 since acquiring J.J. Redick in a trade from Orlando.