Milwaukee at Portland NBA Spread, Betting Pick & TV Info

The Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers are largely in the same boat when they meet on Tuesday night in the Pacific Northwest with the Bucks continuing a road trip and the Blazers returning from one. Both need a win as they battle for a playoff spot in their respective conferences. Portland will be favored here in NBA spreads.

Milwaukee at Portland NBA Spread, Betting Pick & TV Info

When: Tuesday, March 21, 10 PM ET Where: Moda Center, Portland TV: NBA League Pass NBA Odds: Blazers favored by TBA

Why Bet on Milwaukee?

The Bucks are 2-2 on a six-game road trip following a 117-92 loss at Golden State on Saturday. Malcolm Brogdon scored 18 points while Greg Monroe had 12 points with seven rebounds for Milwaukee. The Bucks, playing the second half of a back-to- back, lost for the second time in 10 games. “No excuses but we were fatigued,” Brogdon said. “If your second game on a back-to- back is one of the best teams, it’s going to be tough. Fatigue definitely plays a factor but it’s not the reason we lost.” Monroe has scored in double figures in 15 of his last 17 games, and in seven consecutive games, which is his second-longest streak of the season. In his last 16 games, Monroe is averaging 14.7 points per game on 57.0 percent shooting. Milwaukee is 27-17 this season when Monroe scores in double figures, including 12-5 in the last 16 games Giannis Antetokounmpo scored just nine points. The Warriors know how to defend drivers as well as just about anyone and Antetokounmpo got a little too much Draymond Green. He came into this game with a 53.9 field goal percentage in March. Antetokounmpo declined to talk to reporters after the game. “Draymond is a defensive guy,” Coach Jason Kidd said. “He understands the game and has a very high IQ. He frustrated Giannis.” The Greek Freak has 38 games this season that he’s scored 20+ points while shooting 50.0 percent or better, which is tied for the second-most times in the NBA with Karl-Anthony Towns and behind only LeBron James who has 39 such games. The Bucks were scheduled to arrive in Portland at mid-day Monday and practice there before facing the Trail Blazers on Tuesday night at the Moda Center. Then the Bucks will end the trip in Sacramento in the second of a back-to- back set on Wednesday night at the Kings’ new Golden 1 Center.

Why Bet on Portland?

The Blazers won a third straight game Sunday, 115-104 in Miami. Damian Lillard scored a season-high 49 points, tied a career high with nine 3-pointers, and carried the Trail Blazers. He had 16 points after checking in for the final time with 8:26 left, sparking a game-ending 28-18 run. Lillard’s 49 points tied for the 11th-most in a game this season. It was the most anyone has scored on 21 field-goal attempts or less, and he now has 1,002 3-pointers in his career. He fell just two points shy of his career-high in scoring, matched his career-best streak with six consecutive games of 25+ points, and became the first player in Blazers’ history to make 1,000 three-pointers in his career. Portland (32-37) capped a 4-1 trip and moved within a game of Denver for the West’s No. 8 spot. Jusuf Nurkic had another great game on Sunday with 21 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in 29 minutes, making 9-of- 15 field goals and 3-of- 8 free throws. Al-Farouq Aminu was held to single-digit points for the fifth straight game on Sunday, making his only shot attempt to score three points with five rebounds in 23 minutes. Tuesday’s game marks the second of two regular season matchups between the Trail Blazers and the Bucks in 2016-17. The Bucks defeated the Trail Blazers, 115-107, in Milwaukee on Dec. 7. Jabari Parker led the way for the Bucks with 27 points, while Lillard scored a game-high 30 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists. Portland has won the last three games against the Bucks at the Moda Center. The last time Milwaukee swept the Trail Blazers was the 2012-13 season. The home team has won the past five games between the two franchises. Lillard is averaging 23.0 points, 8.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds in his past five matchups with the Bucks. Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double against Portland in the previous meeting, with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Antetokounmpo has scored in double figures in five of his six games against the Trail Blazers.

Milwaukee at Portland Betting Pick: Portland Trail Blazers

The home team wins a sixth straight in the series.