NBA: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns Preview, Odds, Prediction

The Milwaukee Bucks host the Phoenix Suns tonight, in the central event of the day. Last year’s NBA finalists meet again, promising good fun at Fiserv Forum. The Suns have problems as both Devin Booker and Chris Paul can’t play for different reasons. On the other side, the Bucks are slowly rising their form, and we expect to see them reaching full speed in a week or two. The pressure is all on the hosts, and we’ll see how they respond to that.

Preview

Phoenix Suns (51-12, +230) won the last two games despite being crippled with injuries. Chris Paul fractured his thumb, while Devin Booker had to enter Covid-19 health and safety protocols. With all due respect to all other Suns players, these two guys are at least 40% of the team, if not more.

After trashing the Trail Blazers 120-90, the Suns beat the Knicks 115-114, with both games taking place in Arizona. Phoenix managed to erase a big deficit and flip the result in the final period vs. Knicks, with Cam Johnson hitting a go-ahead and a game-deciding three with 1.2 seconds to go.

Johnson ended the night with 38 points, shooting 11-for-16 from the field and 9-for-12 for three. All this off the bench. Mikal Bridges added 20 points, while Cameron Payne had one fantastic night with 17 buckets and 16 assists. Jae Crowder added 14 points.

Milwaukee Bucks (39-25, -280) recorded three wins in a row, beating the Hornets, the Heat, and the Chicago Bulls in the most recent meeting. That game was at United Center, and the NBA champs defeated one of the biggest rivals this year. The final result was 118-112, with the guests from Milwaukee outscoring the hosts 37-24 in the final 12 minutes, changing the situation on the floor upside down.

Giannis was superb with 34 points, 16 boards, and five assists, struggling to find the rhythm off the foul line, missing nine of his 19 tries. We are noticing a massive difference in his FT percentages at home and on the road.

As usual, Jrue Holiday ran the game, controlling the pace and flow and contributing on the defensive side, as well. He had 26 points, eight boards, and five assists, and without a single turnover. Khris Middleton poured 22 with seven assists and six boards.

Head to Head Games

The two sides played less than a month ago in Phoenix, and the Suns won that event 131-107. Deandre Ayton scored 27 points, Bridges 18, Paul and Booker had 17 each. Holiday and Middleton dropped 21 each for the Bucks, while Giannis concluded the night with 18 buckets.

Prediction

The Bucks will have a huge advantage because of Booker and Paul’s absence. Even with them in the lineup, the hosts would be favorites in this clash. The current spread on the champs is -7 points, and here is one data regarding this. Milwaukee is one of the top three teams in the NBA with double-digit wins at home. That’s why we simply have to bet on the Bucks’ victory with the covered spread.

Pick: Bucks -7