The Milwaukee Bucks have clinched the top seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, and it looks like their conference quarterfinal round will pit them against the Orlando Magic, despite Orlando’s four-game slide. The Bucks have lost two in a row and have not looked as strong in “bubble” play, but they have fared much better than the Washington Wizards, who have now lost six in a row and have fallen behind the Charlotte Hornets in the standings — and the Hornets were not even invited to play in Orlando.
So we have two teams playing out the string on Tuesday night, which can mean star players getting rest, so make sure you check out the rosters for both teams before locking in your basketball betting odds for Tuesday’s affair. As for now, Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to rest for the Bucks.
NBA Game: Milwaukee Bucks vs Washington Wizards (August 11)
When: Tuesday, August 11, 2020, 9:00 pm ET
Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando
TV: ESPN
Radio: WTMJ 620 AM Milwaukee / WFED 1500 AM Washington
Live Stream: fuboTV
NBA Odds: Washington +9 / O/U 229.5 | Check the Odds, Right Here
Why should you Bet on Milwaukee?
With Giannis on the bench, Khris Middleton will be carrying the offensive load on his back. He is a terrific spot shooter but an even better distributor, particularly when the team runs the pick-and-roll. He can dish to some of the Bucks’ other sharpshooters, who have not shot all that well in the last two games. The Bucks need those shooters to warm back up with the playoffs just around the corner.
Milwaukee followed up an overtime loss to Dallas with a regulation loss to Toronto on Monday. The Raptors led by five after one quarter and 14 at the half, and the Bucks really never made much of an effort to get back into it. Giannis also missed the Toronto loss, and Kyle Kover stepped up to lead the team with 19 points. Middleton had 17 points, four boards and three assists. George Hill (14), Pat Connaughton (12), Brook Lopez (12) and Eric Bledsoe (11) were the other Bucks to hit double figures, while Donte DiVincenzo led the team with nine boards. If you like the Bucks here, you see them working out some frustration against a team circling the drain.
Why should you Put your Money on the Wizards?
The Wizards have not played anything even resembling defense in the NBA bubble, and Rui Hachimura has tried to show his potential on offense, but the results are mixed at this point. Given that the Wizards have their two best offensive players — John Wall and Bradley Beal — on the shelf at this point, expecting them to contend for the postseason was a difficult proposition in the first place.
The Wizards last played on Sunday, when they took a 121-103 beating at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City rolled to a nine-point lead after a quarter and led by 16 at halftime. Jerome Robinson led the Wizards with 19 points, with Isaac Bonga (14), Troy Brown (12), Moritz Wagner (12) and Hachimura (11) all hit double figures, and Bonga, Brown and Hachimura all had a team-high eight boards. However, the Wizards were not able to get a meaningful run going in the second half, and it’s hard to see them staying within double figures of the Bucks.
Final Score and Prediction
The Wizards came to Orlando with a tough task in terms of competing with the other NBA contenders, down their two top stars. As their “bubble” season draws near an end, it is hard to argue that they will cover here. I see Milwaukee working out some frustrations, even with Giannis on the bench resting for the playoffs, and I like the Bucks to win and cover, 116-104.
Bucks vs Wizards | Check the Odds
