On Tuesday we have a potential playoff preview as the Milwaukee Bucks, currently the top seed in the Eastern Conference, meet the Brooklyn Nets, who are in eighth place right now but need to keep winning to ensure that they will qualify for the postseason. The Nets won their last game before the COVID-19 shutdown, taking down the Lakers, but they opened their eight-game “bubble” season with a 10-point loss to Orlando. They followed that up with an eight-point win on Sunday over the Wizards. Milwaukee opened their “bubble” season with a seven-point win over Boston, but they could not slow down the hot Houston Rockets, who won by four on Sunday. Don’t miss this Eastern Conference showdown as you figure out your sports betting for this week.
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets (August 4)
When: Tuesday, August 4, 2020, 1:35 pm ET
Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando
TV: ESPN
Radio: WTMJ 620 AM Milwaukee / WFAN 660 AM New York City
Live Stream: fuboTV
NBA Odds: Milwaukee -18.5 / O/U 230.5
Why should you bet on Milwaukee?
Milwaukee can breathe easy with the NBA’s best record and a six-game lead on Toronto in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks led Houston by a point after the third quarter and by eight with 3:14 left in regulation, but then Houston clamped down on defense and outscored the Bucks, 16-4, down the stretch. Houston has more to play for in terms of seeding, but the Bucks need to do a better job of finishing. The team was also sloppy with the ball, turning it over 23 times — which led to 30 points the other way for Houston.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 36 points, and he also grabbed 18 rebounds and dished out eight assists. Brook Lopez hit season highs in points and rebounds in the loss, and he adds 11.2 points per night. Giannis (29.9), Khris Middleton (21.1) and Eric Bledsoe (15.4) are the other Bucks scoring in double figures. However, Bledsoe has missed the first two games in the bubble, and it is unclear when he will return. If you like Milwaukee here, you see them turning the page on a bad finish against Houston.
Why should you put your money on the Nets?
Brooklyn has four wins in their last five games overall, and their win over the Wizards was a victory over another team with a lot of roster holes due to injury. Brooklyn is seven games ahead of Washington now, and as long as they can maintain a lead of more than four games, they would not have to face that play-in for the eight spot in the playoffs. Brooklyn pulled away nicely from Washington down the stretch on Sunday, winning the fourth quarter 35-25.
For the game, Brooklyn shot 42.2 percent from the floor, including 33.3 percent from downtown (11 for 33). They went 31 for 37 from the free throw line, as Caris LeVert led the team with 34 points. He also pulled down seven rebounds in the win. Brooklyn is right in the middle of the pack when it comes to scoring, averaging 111 points per contest. LeVert is the team’s leading scorer, putting up 18.1 points per night. Joe Harris (14.1), Jarrett Allen (10.9), and Garrett Temple (10.1) also average double figures for the Nets.
Final Score and Prediction
This is an immense point spread. While I think that Milwaukee has the talent and the scheme to win here, I just don’t see them beating a Brooklyn team that has to scratch and claw to avoid the play-in by that much. Without Bledsoe, the Bucks are also off beat a bit on their offense, missing one of their contributors. I see the Bucks winning, but I’m predicting a Brooklyn cover, with a final score of Milwaukee 118, Brooklyn 106.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets | Check the Odds
