Chicago at Milwaukee
Time: 8:30 PM CT (ESPN)
Spread: MIL -14.5
Total: 225
Odds c/o Bovada
The Milwaukee Bucks are 10-4 and in second place in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee will host the Chicago Bulls in the second half of an ESPN Friday night doubleheader as 14.5-point favorites. The over/under is set at 225 points according to NBA oddsmakers at bookmaker Bovada.
MIL
The Bucks lost its last outing 113-116 to the Memphis Grizzlies, and it has lost three of its past five. Milwaukee has one of the league’s top talents in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and he has been nothing short of sensational on both ends of the court. The forward is averaging 25.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists and over two blocks/steals per game while posting a PER of 26.3. But helping him a lot has been Khris Middleton, who could make his first All-Star bid this season.
Middleton is averaging 19.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Beyond that, the Bucks have received stellar play from its backcourt of Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon. The pair combines for 25.1 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists per game, and it easily ranks as one of the better, underrated backcourts.
Brook Lopez has been somewhat disappointing, but he is serving his role as a post scorer. Problematically, the 7-foot center is averaging just three rebounds per game in his 25.2 minutes per night, though. It has led the Bucks to give plenty of playing time to Ersan Ilyasova and John Henson, both of whom are better in all facets outside of scoring. Lopez did have an 8 of 13 three-point shooting performance, but he is not a strong big on the interior where the Bucks need it defensively.
Rookie Donte DiVicenzo has impressed the Bucks with his energy off the bench, seeing 20.5 minutes per game as a rookie and bringing a lot of intangibles with his 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Milwaukee has far better depth than often credited for, although its top end talents of Antetokounmpo and Middleton are what carries it. The Bucks also lost Jabari Parker over the offseason, but that seems to be an “addition by subtraction,” as Parker seldom played inspired defense and he is struggling mightily in his new home in Chicago.
CHI
The Chicago Bulls are just 4-11 and 2-5 on the road this season. Chicago has dropped its past two games to Boston and Dallas, but looks to get back on track against the second-best team in the Eastern Conference tonight.
Chicago has been without its First Team All-Rookie selection Lauri Markkanen. But in his stead, Zach LaVine has reemerged as one of the top shooting guards in the league. LaVine is averaging 25.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and four assists per game, leading the team in scoring and second in assists.
Jabari Parker has been something of a disappointment, but he is starting to show signs and is second on the team in scoring at 14.7 points per game.
Rookie Wendell Carter Jr. has been impressive. The lottery pick is averaging 11.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and two blocks per game.
Justin Holiday is one of three Holiday brothers in the league, and he is having a fine season at 11.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The Bulls need a healthy Kris Dunn, Markakken, and Bobby Portis to reach its true potential though. All three factor into the rotation and Portis was looking like a solid sixth man, but he has played just four games this season.
The Bulls are still trying to develop Cameron Payne, for better or worse, and mostly worse, as the former lottery pick is averaging just 8.2 points and 3.2 assists in 23 minutes a game. The Bulls are not bereft of talent, but it needs Markkanen healthy as he is the best player on the team and along with LaVine, one of two cornerstones for this young Bulls team. It will have a rough going against a Bucks team clicking on all cylinders tonight.
