Helping to close down the Monday NBA summer league slate, the Phoenix Suns will take on the Milwaukee Bucks. Neither of these teams has gotten off to their desired start in Las Vegas, as the Suns are 1-1 and the Bucks have dropped to 0-2.
DraftKings Sportsbook is offering odds for all the summer league matchups, including some player prop and team prop options, depending on your location.
The Suns enter as 3.5-point favorites with -162 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Bucks are +136 underdogs, with the game total set at 177.5 points.
Suns vs. Bucks preview, prediction
The Phoenix Suns enter with a 1-1 record in the summer league. They kicked off the action with a tightly contested 81-79 win over the Trail Blazers. Portland led for 74% of the matchup, and both teams extended double-digit leads during the game. But the Suns outscored the Trail Blazers 57-41 in the second half to secure the comeback win. Phoenix was back in action on Sunday, but fell short in an 81-75 loss at the hands of the Pelicans. New Orleans was unable to extend the lead beyond 12 points but led wire-to-wire, and the Suns were unable to replicate the same comeback magic.
Through the opening two matchups, second-year big man Khaman Maluach has opened some eyes with his progression. The Duke product is averaging 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while showcasing an expanded range. Javonte Cooke adds 15 points, while 30th overall pick Koa Peat has contributed 14.5 points, five rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Darius Brown II is the lone other player to average in double figures. Rasheer Fleming, Jameer Nelson Jr., and Koby Brea have also had some nice flashes.
The Milwaukee Bucks have embraced their youthful rebuild this offseason, but it has not shown in their early summer league results. They fell to the Heat 119-86 in their opening matchup, with Miami stretching its lead to as many as 36. Milwaukee was back in action yesterday and put up a more respectable fight, but still fell 90-80 to the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs led for 93% of the matchup and stretched their lead to as many as 23, despite shooting just 36% from the field and 22% from beyond the arc.
10th overall pick Brayden Burries headlines the production, averaging 22 points, three assists, and three rebounds through his first two games of summer league action. Pete Nance and Cormac Ryan are also averaging in double figures, while combining for 12.5 rebounds per game. Kasparas Jakučionis has largely held the responsibility of running the offense, adding nine points and five assists per game. Kira Lewis Jr., B.J. Boston Jr., Malique Lewis, and Cormac Ryan are also names to monitor. Thirteenth overall pick Nate Ament has struggled in his first taste of NBA action, adding just 6.5 points and struggling to make an impact on either side of the ball.
Suns vs. Bucks pick, best bet
This is unlikely to be the highest-quality matchup across Monday’s summer league action. Both of these sides have underwhelmed to this point and have had plenty of stretches of sloppy basketball. Phoenix has been punched in the mouth in both matchups and fallen behind in the early minutes, while the Bucks have yet to be in the driver’s seat in this summer league matchup.
But the biggest concern in this matchup will be Khaman Maluach’s presence. Standing 7-foot-2 and showing some improved feel for the game from his rookie season, he has been a force in the early stages of summer league. This is especially problematic in this matchup, as the biggest critique of the Bucks has been their lack of defensive resistance. Just about Milwaukee’s entire roster is lacking in size and strength, and Maluach has a chance to dominate. Expect the Suns to prioritize giving him touches in the post and for Maluach to take advantage whenever he gets players like Nate Ament and Cormac Ryan on him.
As long as Brayden Burries can be held in check, the Bucks will lack reliable offensive creators, and there have been early red flags with their important young talent. While summer league is far too early to panic about the overall outlook, don’t expect a sudden turnaround from Jakučionis or Ament in Monday’s game. This is especially true given the number of high-level athletes on the Phoenix roster. The Suns have also shown a competitive spirit that has not been evident with the Bucks. Phoenix has made a clear effort to establish an identity built around a high level of defensive effort and energy that has carried down to the summer league roster. Expect this to be the difference on Monday night and for the Suns to get the victory by more than the 3.5-point spread.
