Milwaukee Bucks vs Atlanta Hawks Prediction: Champs Finally Ramping Things Up
Milwaukee Bucks vs Atlanta Hawks Prediction: Champs Finally Ramping Things Up
- When: 8:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: League Pass
Milwaukee Bucks vs Atlanta Hawks Line Movement
Milwaukee Bucks vs Atlanta Hawks Prediction
What a strange season for the defending champs.
You can't necessarily say they've had a bad year. They are, after all, tied for second place in the East at 16 games over .500, which is tied for the fifth-best mark in the league. They have the seventh-best net rating, with the third-best offense and a (barely) top-10 defense - the usual mark of a legit contender.
They also have decisive wins over almost every other contending team, showing that when they want to flex their muscles, they have every ability to do so. And of course, Giannis Antetokounmpo is right in the thick of the MVP race along with Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, putting up another brilliant individual campaign.
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And yet, through it all, something is just...off. Their two long winning streaks this season, of six and eight games, respectively, each featured several wins against tanking teams. They are also unquestionably thinner than they were during their championship season, still missing Brook Lopez and more recently have been without Pat Connaughton, George Hill and Grayson Allen, who is listed as day-to-day and may miss this game.
Perhaps though we may finally be ready to see them snap back into form. They're currently riding a five-game streak, with four covers in the mix. The one game against a bad team, last night in Oklahoma City, featured a 142-115 annihilation. Since February 1, the Bucks have the best offense in the league by a two-point per 100 possession margin, and tonight, they face a bottom-five defense.
That weak D belongs to the Atlanta Hawks, who continue to middle their way along, 7-7 in their last 14 games. Their most recent game, a fall from ahead loss to the Pistons in which Trae Young shot just 5-for-20. They are hanging onto the 10th seed by a thread.
This spread is small enough that you feel good enough about taking a team on the second night of a back to back, especially at home. The Bucks haven't been everything they're capable of, but they're still the pick here. Give the points at home
Milwaukee Bucks vs Atlanta Hawks Pick
- Bucks -4.5 (-110) (Bet $110 to win $100)
Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks Prediction
- When: 8:30 pm ET
- Where to Watch: League Pass
Mavericks vs. Knicks Line Movement
Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks Prediction
This matchup lost some of its sizzle now that Kristaps Porzingis has been traded to Washington, but its still a big game for both teams. The Mavs are 5-1 since the break and 11-2 in their last 13 overall, shooting them up to a mere half game behind the Jazz for 4th place in the West.
The Knicks, meanwhile, have played better ball of late, putting forth respectable performances against the Heat and Sixers (twice) before blowing a game in Phoenix after Julius Randle got ejected, and then finally winning big against the Clippers and Kings on the road.
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Thanks to a stretch of 17 losses in 20 games though, the play in is still more fanciful dream than reality for the Knicks, although they are just 4.5 games back of both the Hornets and Hawks, both of whom are underdogs tonight. After they finish this road trip against the Grizzlies and Nets, things ease up down the stretch for New York. But they probably need to steal a game somewhere, and in Dallas - who they've beaten in three of their last five matchups - is as good a time as any.
The key may be Randle, who historically plays well against his hometown team and is coming off a career-high 46, including eight made threes. RJ Barrett has also been averaging nearly 25 points since the new year, and key reserve Immanuel Quickley has finally rediscovered a shooting stroke that has largely eluded him all season.
That may not be enough to win, but the Knicks will keep this one close. With a line this big, that's enough. Take the points on the road.
Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks Pick
- Knicks +8 (-106) (Bet $106 to win $100)
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