The Bucks will be visiting the 76ers at 8 PM EST. These teams have clashed plenty in the past, but this season’s a bit different. The contests between these two teams are typically box office showdowns between two perennial MVP candidates, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid. This season, Embiid is still returning to full strength, while Antetokounmpo has one foot out of Milwaukee.
The 76ers are currently –440 favorites on the Moneyline at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the point total set to 219.5. Below, I’ll break down tonight’s matchup and offer my prediction.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks preview, prediction
The 24-21 76ers have had Joel Embiid and Paul George rotating in and out of the lineup all season. They’ve both been on some type of restrictions, whether that’s a minutes cap or sitting out half of back to back sets. It’s clear the 76ers are prioritizing their health come playoff time, but as the Clippers have shown us over the years, getting into rhythm is a real thing. You can’t just ice your stars all season and then plug them in April and expect maximum performance. That’s why we’ve been seeing the minutes slowly ramp up for these two, particularly Joel Embiid. The former MVP started off the year slowly with a sub-25 minute restriction but has now cleared 30 minutes in four out of his last five games. He’s been an absolute force, putting up 30 points or more in these last four, shooting 54.4% from the floor and 87% from the line. His player profile hasn’t changed at all, but he’s a little less eager to attack the glass, presumably from fear of injury. He’s still the ultimate scoring machine and has looked much more like himself lately.
The team surrounding Embiid has been good, too. Tyrese Maxey is slashing career-highs in multiple categories and looks like a lock for an All-Star appearance. Standout rookie VJ Edgecombe has been a top-tier two way contributor and is playing big minutes due to his flexibility, athleticism, and motor. He’s not the most consistent player offensively, but he’s surely something the 76ers are keeping their eye on for the future. At least for now, his defensive effort and ability to stretch the floor are allowing him to see big minutes.
The Bucks are crashing and burning spectacularly. They’re 18-26 and have gone 4-6 in their last ten games, which doesn’t seem like a horrible mark, but it’s the aura of dejection and confusion surrounding this team that illustrates their lack of direction. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the subject of trade rumors all season, despite his adamant refusal to outright address the issue. He’s publicly acknowledged that his team needs to be better. His play hasn’t dropped off much from last season. He’s missed too many games to make the All-Star team, but he’s putting up his usual numbers. The problem is that the Bucks don’t have much in terms of personnel outside of Antetokounmpo, even despite Ryan Rollins’ ascension into a starting-caliber point guard. Rollins is in strong consideration for an MIP award, but outside these two, the Bucks just can’t field much substance on the court. Myles Turner has been underwhelming all season on his new team after getting moved from Indiana, seeing drop offs in PPG, BPG, SPG, RPG, FT%, FG%, FGA, and MPG.
76ers vs. Bucks pick, best bet
Best bet: Philadelphia 76ers -9.5
The Bucks are imploding, and the 76ers are getting their best player back up to full speed. It’s unlikely to see the Bucks covering the spread tonight given they’re visiting the Sixers at home, and also due to the lack of cohesion on their team at the moment.
