The NBA season has arrived, and two expected contenders in the Eastern Conference meet when the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
It is the season opener for the Bucks, who are down several key players, while the 76ers already have a loss on their NBA schedule after debuting on opening night against the Boston Celtics.
We’ll find all the stats, information, and the Bucks vs. 76ers odds to find the best pick for your NBA betting picks today.
Bucks vs. 76ers Odds Breakdown
Bucks vs. 76ers odds show Philadelphia is a three-point favorite (-110) with an over/under of 225.5 points (-105).
The moneyline is somewhat contentious, though, as the 76ers are favored at -150 to the Bucks at +130, which are changes from the opening lines of -157 and +141, respectively.
Philadelphia is already 0-1 against the spread, losing 126-117 on Tuesday and unable to cover +3. However, they are 1-0 on over/under, with over 216.5 hitting a total of 243.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers Betting Preview
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are starting behind the eight-ball this season. Three key wings are out until at least November, with Khris Middleton missing time with a wrist injury, Pat Connaughton a calf injury, and new pickup Joe Ingles out until mid-January with a knee injury.
Still, the Bucks boast an athletic lineup with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way and shooters to space the floor with:
- George Hill
- Jrue Holiday
- Grayson Allen
The frontcourt is anchored by Brook Lopez, while Serge Ibaka and fan favorite Bobby Portis round out a physical group.
Eastern Conference
The Bucks finished with a 51-31 record a season ago but losing Middleton for 10 of the 12 playoff games hampered their Eastern Conference championship hopes.
They will have to tread water for a few weeks at the season’s beginning, but that shouldn’t impact their placement in the league standings come April.
Philadelphia 76ers
If there was any doubt that James Harden would fit alongside Joel Embiid, that was squashed on Tuesday night.
NBA player stats show that Harden scored a team-best 35 points, with eight rebounds and seven assists. The offense didn’t solely go through him, as Embiid had 26 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists.
Young guard Tyrese Maxey added 21 points, and forwarded Tobias Harris added another 18 points. Veteran forward P.J. Tucker only added six points in 33 minutes.
All five Philadelphia starters played at least that many minutes while five players – including a garbage minute for Matisse Thybulle – were used off the bench sparingly and combined for 11 points.
76rs Defense
There should be some concerns with this grouping because there shouldn’t be a lack of depth among them. One thing to watch is how the 76ers adjust defensively.
They will be one of the top offenses in the NBA, and while they can outscore most teams, attention to detail on the defensive end is necessary come postseason time.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers Betting Preview
The early public betting favorite shows bettors favoring Philadelphia’s Bucks vs. 76ers odds with 56% of the bets. Then 71% of those public bets are on the over.
NBA Matchups
In 219 regular season meetings, the Bucks hold the all-time lead with 116 wins to the 76ers’ 103. It’s been one of the better NBA matchups for a long time, with 49 playoff meetings. The 76ers hold the advantage with 29 wins to the Bucks’ 20.
Under bettors better pay attention as Bucks betting trends show the under is 10-2 in the last 12 games played, including a 5-1 mark in the previous six road games.
They also are 6-1 against the spread in their previous seven games against a team with a losing record – even with the 76ers at 0-1, it counts.
NBA Team Stats
Meanwhile, the 76ers have the under 4-1 in their last five home games. NBA team stats show a weird quirk where the 76ers are 1-4 against the spread in their last five Thursday games.
Overall in the series, however, the over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Philadelphia, while the Bucks are 4-1 against the spread in the previous five meetings, regardless of location.
These two teams should be in the playoffs when it’s all said and done. Bucks vs. 76ers odds are high for reaching the postseason and contending in the East.
Who to Bet On?
This early season game offers a glimpse of how an offensive-minded team compares to the opposite, albeit an underpowered Milwaukee team due to the Bucks’ injuries.
Given Philadelphia’s offense, we like the over. We’ll see if tired legs play a factor in how the 76ers rebound from Tuesday’s loss after all those minutes early in the season, but it isn’t a great concern.
NBA Pick: Over 219.5 (-110)
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