We had a potential NBA Finals preview on Sunday, as the Philadelphia 76ers took on te Phoenix Suns out in the desert. The 76ers have moved into a tie with the Miami Heat atop the Eastern Conference standings, while the Suns are running away with the Western Conference. Joel Embiid put up 37 points, 15 rebounds and a pair of blocks and was particularly dominant in the first half, but Phoenix pulled away for the 114-104 win. The scary news for 76ers fans was Embiid rolling his ankle while finishing a layup near the end of the third quarter. With the Milwaukee Bucks coming to town on Tuesday, the 76ers definitely need their MVP candidate. Let’s take a NBA betting look at Tuesday’s tilt between East contenders.
NBA Preview: Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers (Tuesday, March 29)
When: Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 7:00 pm ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphiav
TV: No National Broadcast
Radio: WTMJ 620 AM Milwaukee / WPEN 97.5 FM Philadelphia
Live Stream: Sling TV
Why should you bet on the Bucks?
The Bucks had won four out of five heading into their date with the Grizzlies in Memphis, but they ran into a buzzsaw, falling, 127-102. The Grizzlies did not even have leading scorer Ja Morant but still rolled to an easy win. Milwaukee looked tired the whole way through, starting by giving up 32 points in the first quarter and then putting up just 18 in the second to go into the locker orom down 13 at the half. It didn’t help that, as a team, Milwaukee failed to shoot even 30 percent through the middle of the second quarter.
In the third quarter, the Bucks decided to see if they could make it a game, getting 18 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo (part of his 30-point night), but the Bucks’ defense could not stop the Grizzles as they hung 39 on the Bucks. Antetokounmpo also had 11 boards and four blocks for the game, and Khris Middleton chipped in 16 points. However, Antetokounmpo was just 3 of 11 from the floor in the first half, one reason why the Bucks could not keep up in the first half. Jrue Holiday (ankle soreness) missed the game after putting up 23 points per game over his last five contests, and he should return in Philadelphia.
Why should you put your money on the 76ers?
The 76ers had won three in a row before that loss to the SUns, including wins over both the Lakers and Clippers in Los Angeles to start their road trip. While Embiid had a big night, James Harden struggles, going just two of 11 from the floor and finishing with 14 points, to go along with nine assists and seven rebounds. Tyrese Maxey nailed a couple of three-pointers in a 10-0 run to close the gap to one point midway through the fourth quarter, but the Suns outscored them, 13-4, to finish the game.
This is the first meeting between Philadelphia and Milwaukee since the 76ers went to Milwaukee and beat the Bucks, 123-120, on February 17. That game was the 76ers put up 45 points in a dominant second quarter and then hold on for the tight win. With Brook Lopez back, the Bucks may have more of an answer inside for Embiid – particularly if he is slowed with that ankle injury.
Final Score and Prediction
Embiid is playing at MVP level now, and with him dominating inside, the 76ers will have a leg up, even with Lopez back for the Bucks. I also expect James Harden to bounce back from an off night in Phoenix. I predict a final score of Philadephia 120, Milwaukee 117.
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