Bucks vs. 76ers Picks, Predictions: Eastern Conference Titans Collide on TNT
Thursday's NBA on TNT spotlighted game sees Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks visit Joel Embiid's Philadelphia 76ers. Read on for our top Bucks-76ers picks.
The Bucks are playing their home opener and first game of the 2022-23 NBA season on Thursday. The 76ers were part of the NBA's opening night on Tuesday and suffered a 126-117 loss to the Boston Celtics. Star guard James Harden led the way for Philly in that defeat with 35 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
Milwaukee won two of the three head-to-head meetings last season. All three contests were played within a 9-point margin.
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Here are my predictions for Thursday's matchup between the Bucks and 76ers (odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM, and DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Bucks vs. 76ers Game Info
Date/Time: Thursday, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Bucks vs. 76ers Odds
Bucks vs. 76ers Odds Analysis
The 76ers opened as consensus 2-point favorites but that line has moved to Philadelphia -4 with 61% of the tickets accounting for 58% of the handle on the home team. The Over/Under opened at 225 and hasn't moved despite 86% of the tickets and 74% of the handle backing the Over.
Bucks vs. 76ers Picks
Bucks vs. 76ers ATS Pick
76ers -2.5 (-110) ★★
Although the Sixers are the favorites to win this game, the Bucks have dominated this matchup over the last three seasons.
Milwaukee won two of the three meetings in 2019-20. It also won all three games between these ball clubs in 2020-21. The Bucks' dominance continued through last season as they were victorious in two of the three games, improving to 7-2 against their conference foes in the last nine head-to-head clashes. Milwaukee went 6-3 against the spread in those games.
Milwaukee’s average margin of victory in those seven wins was 13.1 points. Being that it’s early in the season and Philadelphia is at home with a game under its belt this season, and Bucks forward Khris Middleton is still out of the rotation, it’s very plausible that the Sixers pull off the upset.
Bucks vs. 76ers O/U Pick
Under 225 (-110) ★★★
The Over/Under for this contest is 225 points, but that mark has been hit or miss when reflecting on the past three seasons between these clubs.
During the 2019-20 campaign, the two teams exceeded this threshold just once in three regular-season meetings. However, the sides went over the 225-point mark in five of their six head-to-head games over the next two seasons.
Since the Bucks and Sixers have hit this mark more often than not, I would suggest going with the Over on Thursday.
Bucks vs. 76ers Prop Picks
Antetokounmpo Over 30.5 points (-130) ★★★
When you talk about the Bucks the first name that comes to mind is Antetokounmpo's. After all, he is a two-time MVP and former Defensive Player of the Year. He was the Finals MVP when the Bucks won it all in 2020-21.
Giannis has played against the 76ers 28 times in his career. His averages include 23.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per contest. He’s also shooting an efficient 51.7% from the field against Philadelphia.
Additionally, in three meetings against the Sixers last season, he averaged 34.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists.
Embiid Over 26.5 points (-130) ★★★
On the flip side, Embiid is one of the focal points for the Sixers. In 12 career games against the Bucks, he averages 28.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. In a pair of regular-season games last season, Embiid averaged 35.5 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per outing. That said, I think it’s safe to bet the Over for both players.
Where to Bet on Bucks vs. 76ers Picks
Bucks-76ers picks made 10/19/2022 at 10:10 p.m. ET.
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