Seven games of NBA action are on Wednesday’s NBA Summer League slate. Starting at 5:30 p.m. EST, the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks face off. Neither of these teams have gotten off to the start they desire with each entering with a 1-2 record tonight.
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Bucks as three-point favorites at -155 on the Moneyline ahead of the contest. The Bulls hold +130 odds on the Moneyline with the game total set at 188 combined points.
Bucks vs. Bulls preview, prediction
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Denver Nuggets 90-89 in their opening matchup in Las Vegas but dropped the past two games against the Cavaliers and Clippers, each by 10+ points. Chris Livingston has been a bright spot for the Bucks and the former 58th-overall pick earned a guaranteed contract in Milwaukee due to his strong play. Livingston averages 20 points and 5.3 rebounds per game across the opening three matchups while shooting 50% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the three-point arc. In an organization a bit starved for young talent, Livingston has done a nice job carving out a niche for himself.
Pete Nance has also impressed, scoring 12+ points in all three games and pulling in at least seven rebounds in two of these matchups. Jamaree Bouyea knocked down a game-winner in Milwaukee’s lone victory and also scored 20 points in 20 minutes against the Cavaliers. The San Francisco product plays an exciting style of basketball that shines in this Summer League setting. Cormac Ryan has also provided a nice scoring punch off the bench, tallying as many as 18 points. Tyler Smith, Andre Jackson, and the 48th-overall pick Bogoljub Markovic have each had some moments but have not been able to separate themselves from the pack as much as hoped.
Chicago was blown out 116-72 in the opening game by the Toronto Raptors in which they turned the ball over a ridiculous 34 times. They then lost to the Kings 109-92 in the second matchup before beating the Pacers 114-105. Last year’s No. 11 pick Matas Buzelis is coming off a 28-point eruption in the previous game, their lone victory. Buzelis has the potential to grow into a foundational young talent in this Chicago organization and has mostly reaffirmed these hopes through his two games of Summer League. He finished the season strong last year and is building off this effort.
The No. 12 pick in this year’s draft, Noa Essengue, also has shown some positive flashes. Outside of the highlight reel dunk on him from Johnny Furphy that Essengue will want scrubbed from the internet, he has impressed on both sides of the ball. After recording just five points in the first game, Essengue broke out for 12 points against the Kings and 21 in the previous victory. Fan-favorite Yuki Kawamura has been an entertaining watch off the bench, finishing with 15 points and 10 assists in the previous game. Lachlan Olbrich, Jahmir Young, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Maozinha Pereira and Wooga Poplar have shown some nice flashes at times as well.
Bucks vs. Bulls pick, best bet
Keep an eye on the injury reports leading up to the matchup as we have reached the stage of Summer League in which organizations begin pulling their clear NBA players. If they play, look for Chicago to build off the momentum of the previous game with Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue leading the charge. If Buzelis plays to his peak, he will be the best player on the floor. Buzelis has made his case for earning the “too good” for Summer League label, but if he is on the floor tonight, I am backing the Bulls.
The recent level of play from Chris Livingston is exciting, but Milwaukee’s young core has mostly underwhelmed thus far during Summer League. Andre Jackson has not taken a step forward offensively, and offense has not come easily for the Bucks as a collective. Chicago looked like a different team in their most recent victory, so look for this to continue tonight. Neither of these teams will compete for the Summer League crown, nor do either have a case for the most promising young core. But count on the Bulls’ recent draft picks to assert themselves and pick up a second victory to climb to .500 in this competition.
