I’m expecting a big sigh of relief on the faces of the Milwaukee Bucks players after tonight’s game, as they finally get to rest for a week and recalibrate for the remaining 30 or so games of the regular season. Despite ranking 3rd in the East, the first half of the season for the Bucks was a turbulent one, I’m expecting things to settle in and stabilize after the break. But, before the break they still have one more game left, tonight in Memphis against the shorthanded Grizzlies. Khris Middleton has been out for a while, he is not expected back for this one. Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are both listed as game time decisions, but should be able to play. The Bucks are 11.5 point favorites, the line opened at 9.5 points which would indicate plenty of action on the road team here.
From a bettors perspective the Grizzlies have actually performed well lately, covering the spread in 9 of their last 13 games. However, they were just on a 9-game losing streak which ended last night in a 121-113 win over the Houston Rockets. It was a total team effort with 3 starters and 3 bench players all scoring in double-figures, as a unit the Grizzlies knocked down 15 threes in the win. However, those type of performances have been rare to come by, especially in home games where they are only 1-5 SU in their last 6 played. This being a 2nd game of a back-to-back also isn’t helpful, in this scenario the Grizzlies have only 1 win in 9 games played. Eastern Conference opponents have beaten them in 6 straight, this team will be in full on tank mode the rest of the season.
