Pick against the spread, best player prop for Jazz vs. Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks (5-3) are entering Friday’s night game against the Utah Jazz on a three-game winning streak. Milwaukee just recently pulled off a two-game sweep of the Detroit Pistons, where they scored 125 and 130 points, respectively.

Also, in both of those games, the Bucks shot over 40-percent from three-point range, which has been a major part in their offensive explosion this season. Two-time reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is off to a fast start, averaging 26.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game this season.

As for the Utah Jazz (4-4), they have lost two-straight games to the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets in consecutive days. Overall, on their early-season, seven-game road, they have a record of 1-2. The Jazz are led by guard Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 21.3 points per game, but is only shooting 37.9 percent from the field.

Can the Bucks snap their losing skid? Or will the Bucks continue their offensive explosion this season? To answer that question and more, here is our pick against the spread and a player prop you need to pay attention too.

Utah Jazz vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 8:00 p.m. ET

Pick ATS: Bucks -5.5

As previously mentioned, the Milwaukee Bucks are one of the highest scoring teams in the NBA. Through eight games, they are averaging 125.2 points per game, first in the association.

In the Bucks’ last five games, they’ve either met or crossed the 125-point threshold, four times all resulting in wins. Milwaukee is also shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 43.7 percent from three-point range. The Bucks are also coming into this contest at almost full-strength.

Meanwhile, the Jazz will be without Joe Ingles, Derrick Favors, and Jarrell Brantley, who are all listed as day-to-day. For the Utah to pull the upset, they will need Mitchell to shoot the ball better, but also get better production from Mike Conley. In their last two games, Conley is only averaging 8.5 points per and shooting 28.5 percent from the field.

Additionally, the Jazz have not been great defending the three-point shot this season. Utah is allowing teams to shoot at a 40.3 percent clip, ranked 29th in the NBA. Therefore, I like the Bucks to easily cover and extend their winning streak to five games.

Player prop: Khris Middleton O2.5 3-pointers made (+110)

We have the league’s best three-point shooting team in the Bucks taking on the league’s worst at the defending the three in the Jazz. This prop should have no problem clearing as Middleton is shooting 53.5 percent from three-point range on 5.4 attempts per game.

Middleton has more than 2.5 three-pointers in four games this season. And in those games, the veteran sharp-shooter averaged 6.7 attempts. The 29-year-old is coming off of a hot 5-of-6 shooting from behind the arc against the Detroit Pistons earlier this week.

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