Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will look to bounce back from a rare loss when they hit the road to take on the struggling Detroit Pistons on Thursday night, live from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. With the Bucks looking to kick off their post all-star break run in style and the Pistons looking for the huge upset, let’s find out which team is offering the best value against their NBA Odds for the Bucks vs Pistons.
Bucks vs Pistons 2020 NBA Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Thursday February 20, 2020 at 7:00 PM ET
- Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
- TV: FSDT, FSWI, NBA TV Canada
- NBA Odds: Milwaukee -13 / Total: 224.5
Why Bet On Milwaukee
The Bucks might be on the road, but there are a bunch of great reasons to back Milwaukee in this affair, starting with the fact that they are the far better team at both ends of the court. Then, there’s the fact that the Bucks will be highly motivated to get the win after suffering a 118-111 road loss to Indiana on Feb. 12 in their last game before the break after winning 14 of their previous 15. Last, but not least, the Bucks will enter this game on a bit of a high note after some comments from their team leader over the all-star break indicating he would likely stay in Milwaukee long-term.
“I can’t think that far ahead. I’m just trying to focus on the moment and get better,” Antetokounmpo told reporters when asked about his future in Milwaukee following the 2020-21 season when his current contract expires. “But why not (stay in Milwaukee)? I’m a guy that wants to be with a team for a while. As long as we’re winning, and we’re winning so far, so I don’t think anything’s going to change.”
Antetokounmpo is averaging 30 points (second in the league), 13.5 rebounds (fifth) and 5.8 assists in 48 games this season. Khris Middleton is averaging 20.4 points and 6.1 rebounds. Milwaukee averages a league-leading 119.6 points per game while also ranking eighth in points by limiting the opposition to 107.5 points per game defensively. The Bucks have gone a blistering 25-3 on the road this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 119.63
- Field Goal %: 48.01
- Three Point %: 36.14
- Free Throw %: 73.58
- Total Rebounds: 51.98
Defense
- Total Score: 107.5
- Field Goal %: 41.12
- Three Point %: 35.91
- Free Throw %: 78.13
- Total Rebounds: 46.02
Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends
- Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
- Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a road favorite.
- Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Bucks are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Bucks are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
- Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Why Bet On Detroit
There’s only one reasons to back the Pistons in this affair and it’s because they’re getting a bunch of points as home dogs. The bad news is that the Pistons have dropped four straight and eight of their last 10 including a 116-112 overtime loss at Orlando on Feb. 12. Prior to that, Detroit only managed to put 76 points on the board in a pitiful home loss to Charlotte, which came on the heels of another disappointing home loss to the abysmal Knicks.
Derrick Rose is averaging 18.2 points and 5.8 assists while Luke Kennard is averaging 15.8 points and 3.5 rebounds. The Pistons reached an agreement this week on a buyout with veteran point guard Reggie Jackson in a cost-cutting move.
“The only way I think you build a championship-type team is to play the guys who produce,” Casey told reporters. “If you just run them out there with no consequences for mistakes, no consequences for lack of discipline, no consequences for letting your guy blow by you, then you’re not going to have very much when it’s all ready to go (in future years). It’s pretty simple from that standpoint.”
Detroit averages just 108.0 points per game (23rd) while allowing 110.6 points per contest defensively (16th). The Pistons have gone an uninspiring 11-19 at home this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 107.98
- Field Goal %: 46.1
- Three Point %: 36.84
- Free Throw %: 74.36
- Total Rebounds: 42.39
Defense
- Total Score: 110.58
- Field Goal %: 47.54
- Three Point %: 36.13
- Free Throw %: 77.87
- Total Rebounds: 43.63
Detroit Pistons Betting Trends
- Pistons are 10-21 ATS in their last 31 games overall.
- Pistons are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 games following a straight up loss.
- Pistons are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games as a home underdog.
- Pistons are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Pistons are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Bucks vs Pistons Expert Analysis and Prediction
I know the 13-point spread may look a bit daunting, but I wouldn’t be overly worried about it since I’m expecting Milwaukee to cruise to victory in this one. The Pistons have looked utterly disengaged recently and the loss of Reggie Jackson is not going to help them at all. Outside of Derrick Rose and Andre Drummond and Luke Kennard, the Pistons don’t have much fortitude or talent – and oh – by the way, whatever the hell happened to Blake Griffin?
Bucks are 26-9 ATS in their last 35 games following a straight up loss while the Pistons are 4-14 ATS in their last 18 home games. More importantly, Milwaukee wants to continue its high level of play as we inch closer toward the end of the regular season while Detroit has absolutely nothing left to play for from here on out. I’m going with Milwaukee, minus the points, to win big!
Pick: Milwaukee 117 Detroit 95
