Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons Prediction, Preview, and Odds
The Detroit Pistons will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday for the second half of their back-to-back. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 PM Eastern. The Bucks took game one in a 141-135 final.
Let's dive in.
Bucks Win 4 Of 5
It was the Damian Lillard show in Detroit as he scored 45 points and tallied 11 assists. The Bucks shot over 55% from the floor and Lillard was complimented by Giannis Antetokounmpo who was an assist shy of a triple-double, boasting a 31 and 10 stat line. Milwaukee won the battle on the glass but lost the turnover battle. The bench added 18.
Milwaukee enters this contest averaging 124.6 points per game, which is good for 2nd in the league. The Bucks have been pretty average in terms of scoring in the paint, they currently average around 51 per game. However, they have continued to shoot the ball remarkably well, and thanks to their top five 3-point shooting and 2nd ranked 2-point shooting, they currently sit 2nd in the league in effective field goal percentage. In terms of outside shooting, Milwaukee is attempting right around 37 3-pointers per game and is 5th in makes with over 14. As noted, while the Bucks haven't neccessarily attacked the paint, they have still found a way to get to the free throw line, and their 26.5 attempts per game, is also good for 2nd in the NBA. That said, they currently sit in the bottom half of the league in free throw percentage. With the hot shooting, offensive rebounds come at a premium, and even so, Milwaukee has struggled to pull down their missed shots. They have found ways to make up for this, however. Namely, their strong ball security. Turnovers could've cost them against Detroit in the first game so I expect them to value the basketball a little more here.
On the defensive side of the court, Milwaukee is allowing 120.6 points per game, which lands them at 25th in the league. The interior defense has fluttered at times, though most recently they limited the Pistons to just 40 down low while the offense scored 58. On the season, Milwaukee is giving up more than 53 interior points per game. They've also struggled to get things going in terms of forcing turnovers. This rang true last game, and on the season the Bucks sit 28th in the league with fewer than seven steals per game. This has led to Milwaukee sitting 30th in opponent field goal attempts per contest, though the pace of Milwaukee has certainly contributed. The key for the defense here will be to win the battle on the glass and limit the second-chance points allowed to Detroit.
Detroit Woes Continue
Leading at the end of the first quarter, the Pistons faltered, having to attempt a come-from-behind win at home. The Pistons held the lead, barely, with around seven minutes to go, but ultimately couldn't slow the Bucks offense. Detroit connected on nearly 57% of their shots from deep and won the turnover battle. Two starters closed in double figures, but it was the bench that kept the Pistons in the game as Ausar Thompson scored 22 and Alec Burksadded 33.
Detroit enters this contest averaging 112.4 points per game, which lands them at 24th in the league. However, the offense has topped this average in three straight games and will certainly look to continue that trend here. The primary mode of scoring for the Pistons has been their ability to rack up points in the paint. They are top 10 in the league with close to 53 per game, and while they were stymied down low a game ago, they'll surely look to continue getting up shots near the hoop. What has hindered the offense has been their inability to knock down the perimeter shot. Detroit has recognized this and currently sits near the bottom of the league in 3-point attempts per game, but even with a low percentage, less volume means fewer points. To make up for this, the Pistons have attacked the glass with quite a fervor. At current, they are snagging over 11 offensive rebounds per game, and that has led to many second-chance points. Offensive rebounds will remain key here as the Pistons sit near the bottom of the league in turnovers per game. They took great care of the basketball a game ago and no doubt, they'll try to exploit the soft hands of the Bucks' defense again.
On the defensive end of the court, Detroit is allowing 123 points per game, which puts them at 28th in the NBA. The defense was not on full display a game ago, where they allowed 141, but things have looked brighter for Detroit as they have held two of their last four opponents under 120. The big hindrance here has been the interior defense. Detroit currently sits 27th in the league with foes scoring over 55 inside points per game. Along with that, Detroit sits 27th in opponent 3-point shooting and is allowing around 12 outside shots per game. While the defense has struggled to poke the ball away and score quick points on the other side of the court, the Pistons have done a solid job closing out possessions and limiting second-chance points. Unfortunately, the lack of steals is also indicative of a defense that is frequently out of position. With over 27 free throw attempts allowed per game, Detroit sits 29th in opponent free throw rate. That simply can't remain if they want to steal one here.
Sunday's Top Plays
Today's Top Plays
Mason Folz - 13-1 Best Bet Run - Snag Mason's NFL Game Of The Year For Just $35 -
Nick Parsons - 9-2 NFL Totals Run - Grab Nick's NFL Totals Bookiekiller For Just $30 -
ASA Sports - 5-1 In Playoffs - Grab ASA'a NFL Total Of The Week For Just $35 -
David Hess - 12-2-2 NHL Run - Snatch Up David's Sunday NHL Totals Dominator For Just $29 -
Arthur Reyes - 10-3 NBA Run - Snag Arthur's Sunday NBA Buzzer Beater For Just $29 -
Scott Steehn - 6-0 CBB Run - Grab Scott's Sunday CBB Best Bet For Just $29 -
Best Bets
Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
There is more to just the zig-zag theory here in backing the Bucks. We just saw a Pistons team shoot nearly 57% from deep while also winning the turnover battle. This is a rarity for this club, and they still found themselves losing by three possessions. With Milwaukee firing on all cylinders and the Pistons unlikely to get the 55-point boost from their bench, look for the Bucks to continue their dominance here and look cleaner than game one.
Milwaukee -13
Prediction: Milwaukee -13
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
While both of these teams sit in the top 10 concerning tempo, we can't expect the type of shooting we saw in game one to be the norm. Also, as alluded to, the Pistons bench is unlikely to give the same type of boost they provided in game one. Add to, the Bucks' defense has been rock solid this season and sits top 10 in opponent effective field goal percentage. The Bucks continue to play defense without fouling and while the Pistons do send opponents to the line at a high rate, Milwaukee is in the bottom half of the league in free throw percentage. Simply put, don't expect the same tailwinds we saw in game one to come to fruition here.
Under 248.5
Prediction: Under 248.5
I have been a basketball junkie my entire life and I played basketball up and into college, where l eventually hung it up for the last time. I was very competitive and that has translated over into sports wagering. It drove me to look at games and scour over film and trends to find that same advantage. Majoring in technology management in college, l spent hours studying markets and how they operate. While seeming efficient, they almost never are. This allows a savvy participant to exploit opportunities; in other words, to find their edge. Immediately l made the connection between general markets, and betting markets.What l bring to the table is a ceaseless drive to continually find my edge, the ability to capitalize on market movement, and the data, trends, and stats to confirm my assertion. My hunger for success is why you will be happy to read my breakdowns. No stone will go unturned to find you a winner.
