If the truth be told, we are all a little too quick to start crowning champions even before we get to the end of the regular season. It’s not just the NBA where we do this, but rather every professional sport where there appears to be a team that is a cut above the rest. In fairness, the NBA has proven to be one sport where the best teams in the regular season tend to go on and make a deep run in the postseason, but there are a lot of teams this year who could potentially make a deep run. Take a look at the Western Conference and you will see that the top 5 teams are all on winning streaks that range for 2 to 7 games. Any one of that group could emerge as a potential champion in the postseason. The Eastern Conference looks a little more cut and dried, though, as the Milwaukee Bucks are pulling further away from the pack with each passing week. The Bucks will be at home on Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder and will start as a 10 ½ point favorite. The point total for this one is set at 229. Let’s see how the NBA odds will be for the Thunder vs Bucks.
Thunder vs Bucks 2020 NBA Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Friday, February 28 at 8 PM EST
- Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
- TV: ESPN
- NBA Odds: Milwaukee Bucks -10.5 / Total 230.5
FTD. pic.twitter.com/00ObCtpgua
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 28, 2020
Why bet on the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the rise, with the first order of business being their attempt to run down the Denver Nuggets in the quest to win the Northwest Division and secure home court advantage in the opening round. The Thunder now find themselves 3 ½ games back of the Nuggets in that race after winning 5 in a row and going 8-2 in their last 10 games. Despite their great run of form, OKC are not clear of the pack below them and are in fact just a game up on the Dallas Mavericks, the team occupying the #7 spot. The Thunder are 17-10 on the road this season and have a winning 12-8 record versus the East, although they lost 121-119 to the Bucks when they faced them at home earlier this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 111.25
- Field Goal %: 47.42
- Three Point %: 35.66
- Free Throw %: 80.37
- Total Rebounds: 43.07
Defense
- Total Score: 108.07
- Field Goal %: 45.66
- Three Point %: 34.3
- Free Throw %: 79.67
- Total Rebounds: 44.15
Why bet on the Milwaukee Bucks
There is very little left to say about the Milwaukee Bucks this season that hasn’t already been said a million times already. Barring a major collapse, they will almost certainly finish the season with the best record in the NBA, which would mean home court advantage all the way through the playoffs. That would be a pretty awesome advantage when you consider that they are an impressive 26-3 in their own building this season. They are 17-12 ATS on home court, which is still good given that they are very often favored by a pretty big margin. The Bucks have won 13 of their last 14 games at home and are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 119.83
- Field Goal %: 48.13
- Three Point %: 36.13
- Free Throw %: 74.09
- Total Rebounds: 51.78
Defense
- Total Score: 107.59
- Field Goal %: 41.14
- Three Point %: 35.95
- Free Throw %: 78.07
- Total Rebounds: 45.83
Thunder vs Bucks Betting Trends
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oklahoma City’s last 7 games.
- Oklahoma City are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.
- Oklahoma City are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against Milwaukee.
- Oklahoma City are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games against Milwaukee.
- Milwaukee are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee’s last 6 games.
- Milwaukee are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Milwaukee’s last 8 games against Oklahoma City.
Thunder vs Bucks Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
The earlier meeting between these two this season was a close one, but the Bucks are a much different proposition when playing on home court. I think they win, cover, and I think the total goes UNDER.
Oklahoma City Thunder 105 Milwaukee Bucks 117
