It’s a potential first-round Eastern Conference NBA playoff preview on Tuesday as Milwaukee Bucks visit the Chicago Bulls on national TV. Which way to lean at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks?
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls
Tuesday, April 05, 2022 – 08:00 PM EDT at United Center
After the NBA went dark on Monday opposite the college basketball national championship game, it resumes with a bang Tuesday with 12 games, and Bucks-Bulls is on ESPN.
This could be a playoff preview. Milwaukee sits third in the East and probably will finish anywhere from second to fourth. Chicago is fifth in the East and probably will finish either there or sixth.
Milwaukee has dominated this rivalry over the past few seasons and looks for the four-game sweep Tuesday.
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The teams last played on March 22 in Milwaukee and the Bucks won easily 126-98 despite playing without All-Star Khris Middleton.
It was the Bucks’ 15th win in their last 16 meetings with the Bulls. Chicago's lone win came in the 2019-20 regular-season finale when the Bucks rested their starters because they were locked into the East's No. 3 playoff seed.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has absolutely terrorized the Bulls this year, averaging 29.7 points, 15.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks.
Jrue Holiday is averaging 22.0 points and 4.7 assists. DeMar DeRozan leads Chicago is averaging 28.3 points in the series, and Zach LaVine is at 25.5 points.
The Bucks are 10-1 against the spread on the NBA odds in their past 11 in Chicago.
What Is Bucks’ Motivation Level?
I will be curious how hard the Bucks go in the final few games to try and get as high as No. 2 in the East or if they simply prefer to make sure Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday are healthy and well-rested ahead of the postseason.
Milwaukee lost a potential NBA Finals preview on Sunday, 118-112 at home to Dallas that all but ended the Bucks’ chance at the No. 1 seed in the East.
Giannis played 40 minutes and had 28 points and 10 rebounds for his 44th double-double of the season, but also appeared to injure his right hand during the fourth quarter. Needless to say, if he doesn’t play Tuesday that would change everything.
Giannis is third in the NBA scoring race at 30.1 ppg behind LeBron James (30.3) and Joel Embiid (30.2).
It appears that Antetokounmpo will fall short of winning a third career MVP Award as he’s +600 on the NBA futures odds at BMR’s top-rated books, behind Nikola Jokic (-300) and Embiid (+270).
Antetokounmpo and Jokic are the only players averaging at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists this season.
No player in NBA history has ever averaged 25/10/5 in four different seasons, but Giannis is going to accomplish that this year.
Antetokounmpo has seven games this season with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds while shooting better than 65 percent.
The only player with more in a single season was Wilt Chamberlain with 11 in 1962-63. There might be some concern with how healthy Middleton is as he has really struggled with his shot in recent games, going 3-for-14 vs. the Mavericks.
Dallas doubled Giannis often and dared other players to beat it. Milwaukee is 10-4 ATS on the NBA picks in its last 14 games.
Bulls Can’t Beat NBA’s Best
We previewed one Bulls game last week and recommended them -3.5 against the Los Angeles Clippers.
I’ll be honest in that Chicago had no right winning that game, much less covering the spread, but it did 135-130 in overtime behind 50 points from DeMar DeRozan.
That’s what the Bulls, do though: They beat the lesser teams and lose to the best clubs in the NBA.
Chicago is now 0-18 this season against the top three teams in both the Eastern and Western Conference after losing at home to Miami 127-109 on Saturday.
DeRozan (26 points) and Zach LaVine (33) combined for 59 points. LaVine has been playing through a sore knee that likely will need a procedure in the offseason. An extra day off can only help him.
The offense isn’t the problem as DeRozan (28.0 ppg) and LaVine (24.7) are the league’s highest-scoring duo.
Chicago just is not a good defensive team and won’t be until starting point guard Lonzo Ball returns from injury – if he even does this season.
Coach Billy Donovan hinted that he might move young forward Patrick Williams back to the starting lineup because he’s a solid defensive player.
He began the year as the starter but then went down with an injury and has come off the bench since his return.
Williams had 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal vs. the Heat. "We have a long way to go to be at their level," Donovan said of Miami, which won the season series 4-0. "Right now I think that's clear."
The loss means the Bulls will not reach 50 wins for the first time since the 2014-15 season. For Tuesday’s pick, this is only if all the Bucks’ starters are in action.
If they aren’t, take the points. Chicago is just 7-20 ATS in its last 27 as a dog. The Bucks are 7-2 ATS in their past nine as road favorites.
Score Prediction: Bucks 120, Bulls 114
NBA Pick: Bucks -4 (-110) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
