The Bucks are looking for the second road win in a row, while the Jazz are hoping to extend winning streak over Milwaukee at home. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
Milwaukee Bucks at Utah Jazz
Spread: Milwaukee Bucks -1.5 (-103) at BetDSI Sportsbook
Total: Over/Under 200 points (-102/-108)
The Bucks are searching for the first win over Utah in seven matches
The Milwaukee Bucks are currently on the Western Conference road trip, and this will be their second following a 113:107 overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns, but this one is quite tricky for them as they are without a win in Salt Lake City since 2000. Jason Kidd’s side is in the 9th position in the East with the 9-8 record and is looking for the fifth away win this season.
Milwaukee spent a lot of energy to beat the Suns on Wednesday as they were without GiannisAntetokounmpo and John Henson, so it is no wonder why they struggled below the rims as Phoenix dominated the boards (60-42). However, the Bucks were excellent id defense and forced the hosts to commit even 29 turnovers, while they had just 14, and Milwaukee also recorded 16 steals in opposite to the Suns’ seven. Khris Middleton had one of the best displays in his career as he led the Bucks with 40 points (14-26 FG, 3-9 3PT, 9-11 FT), nine rebounds, and season-high four thefts, as he stepped in magnificently in Giannis’ absence and guided his team towards victory. Eric Bledsoe added season-high 30 points (11-26 FG, 2-5 3PT, 6-13 FT), seven assists, six boards, and two steals, helping the Bucks to beat his former team, while Thon Maker scored season-high 16 points, season-high eight rebounds, and game-high three rejections as he was the only center in the lineup. Malcolm Brogdon contributed with 14 points and a couple of thefts, while other players ended the game in single digits. GiannisAntetokounmpo will return for this tilt and is a player to watch for the visitors but is not clear whether he’ll serve as the center or power forward. In any case, he and Middleton will run the floor for the Bucks, while Bledsoe could have some problems in a tough matchup against Ricky Rubio who is known for his great defensive skills.
Jason Kidd cannot count on Jabari Parker who is still sidelined with a knee injury and will not return until February, while MirzaTeletovic will miss another three weeks with the knee injury as the Bosnian international went through arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee. Matthew Dellavedova is out with the left knee tendinitis, and there is no timetable for his return, while Gary Payton II sustained a right ankle sprain in a win over Phoenix and is a game-time decision for this one. John Henson missed the game in Arizona due to an eye procedure, but he is back with the team and could feature on Saturday, as he is the No. 1 center after Greg Monroe left for the Suns, and Henson already recorded a pair of double-doubles since Monroe went to Phoenix. The Bucks are scoring 102.60 points per contest on average (22nd in the NBA), while they are allowing 104.65 points in return (13th in the NBA).
Place: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
Date/Time: Saturday, November 25th, 2017, 9 PM ET
TV Coverage: ATTSN-RM, FOX SPORTS WISCONSIN, NBA TV CANADA
The Jazz are looking to extend the unbeaten run against Milwaukee at home to 16 games
The Utah Jazz have one of the longest winning streaks against other franchise in the NBA as they didn’t lose to Milwaukee in Salt Lake in the previous 15 duels, and are eager to prolong that run when they meet on Saturday. Quin Snyder’s team is currently sitting in the 9th place in the Western Conference with the 8-11 record, and Utah is looking for the consecutive home win after dismantling the Chicago Bulls 110:80.
Utah won all four quarters against Chicago, limiting the visitors to the miserable 37.2% from the field, and recording 23 assists opposite to the Bulls’ 15. Also, the Jazz were excellent in defense, forcing 16 turnovers and committing just seven, while they had ten steals comparing it to Chicago’s three. Derrick Favors led Utah with 23 points and seven rebounds, Rodney Hood added 19 points and four boards, while Alec Burks posted 15 points and two thefts. Joe Ingles chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds, Ricky Rubio finished with ten points and a couple of steals, while Jonas Jerebko had ten points and six boards. Donovan Mitchell was disastrous from the field (1-10), ending the tilt with just four points, but managed to contribute with game-high seven dimes and five rebounds. The rookie shooting guard emerged as one of the leaders in Rudy Gobert’s absence, and I am sure he will return to his usual on Saturday, while Favors and Rubio are also the men to watch for the hosts on this one.
Quin Snyder will be without Rudy Gobert, so Favors will get another start at the center, while Jerebko will continue to serve as the power forward. Ekpe Udoh’s minutes increased since Gobert suffered an injury, but Udoh’s displays weren’t noticeable, unlike Jerebko’s who scored double digits in three out of the previous six matches. Joe Johnson and Dante Exum are still sidelined and will not feature here, so Burks, Ingles, and Hood will get all the minutes they can handle. The Jazz are scoring 100.226 points per contest on average (26th in the NBA), while they are allowing 100.00 points in return (5th in the NBA). Utah is at the top of the league when it comes to free-throw shooting (83.90%), while their home defense is allowing just 95.27 points to the opponents and that is good enough for the second place in the NBA.
Milwaukee Bucks at Utah Jazz Trends & Prediction
The Bucks are 7-9-1 against the spread (4-3-1 away), while they are 8-9 on over/under (5-3 away), and I believe this one could go either way so that I will opt for the points instead. Milwaukee didn’t score more than 95 points in Utah in the last 16 years, but I think they can come to 100-105 with Giannis back on the court, so I’d go with OVER.
The Jazz are 9-10 against the spread (7-4 home), while they are 8-10-1 on over/under (4-7 home), and although I am not sure who will win this encounter, I hope they will combine for 200+ points now when Utah’s interior defense is weakened with Gobert’s injury.
My Pick: Pass
Total: Over 200 points (-102)
