Sixers vs. Bucks Betting Pick (March 17, 2021)
On Wednesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers will play host to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Sixers enter play at 28-12, which is the best record in the Eastern Conference by a full game over the Brooklyn Nets. The Bucks enter play at 25-14, which has them above the fray in third place, just 1.5 games back of the Nets.
Let’s get into our Sixers-Bucks betting preview, including odds, boosts, and picks.
Sixers vs. Bucks Betting Pick (March 17, 2021)
The Philadelphia 76ers will face off against the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time this season in a game that will pit the Eastern Conference’s top seed against the #3 seed. Philadelphia has gone 18-3 at home this season, the best mark in the entire NBA. Milwaukee’s gone 10-9 on the road this season making them one of just three teams in the East to hold an above .500 record away from home.
Click here to get crazy 64-1 March Madness odds at DraftKings Sportsbook.
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The early returns on the post-Joel Embiid Sixers have been solid thus far. First, Philadelphia blew out the San Antonio Spurs 134-99 on Sunday night. In that game, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris -the team’s second- and third-leading scorers- combined for just 37 points. It was a well-balanced offensive attack that got the team their first win of the two or three week period they’re expected to be without Embiid. Philadelphia’s leading duo showed up big time against the Knicks, combining for 46 points, 19 rebounds, and 9 assists. Seth Curry’s breakout performance added the needed extra fuel to the fire pushing them across the finish line with a 99-96 victory. The Sixers have won each of their four games since the All-Star break and are 8-2 in their last ten games.
The Milwaukee Bucks have been on fire as of late, winning four straight games, including their three games since the All-Star break. The Bucks went off in consecutive games against the Washington Wizards, racking up 125 and 133 points to go with a 134-101 rout of the New York Knicks. Without Joel Embiid meeting him at the rim, expect a healthy dose of two-time and reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo diving into the paint and getting to the line in this one. He’s averaging 32 points per game over his last two games and 28.2 points per game in the month of March.
Since the start of the 2016-17 season, neither team has won more than two games in a row against the other. Will Philadelphia continue that trend with a victory tonight, or will their midwestern foes buck the trend?
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Sixers vs. Bucks Odds
Here’s the line for the Sixers and Bucks at DraftKings Sportsbook:
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- Spread: Sixers +5.5, Bucks -5.5
- Moneyline: Sixers +188, Bucks -230
- Total: 235.5
And here are the current best available odds for the Sixers (may not display on Google AMP pages):
Bets We Like With a Bucks Win
FiveThirtyEight gives the Sixers a 58% chance of winning with a -2 point line. The oddsmakers are a bit more convinced in Milwaukee’s chances of winning given the implied win probability based on the moneyline at 67%.
Bucks to Win and Under 235.5 Points (+165, DraftKings Sportsbook)
Milwaukee has been something of a scoring juggernaut over the majority of their last nine games. They’ve scored at least 105 points in eight of their last nine games, including at least 125 points in six of those games. They’re averaging 130.7 points per game over their last three games, two of which have come on the road. They’re 9-1 in their last ten games and have no notable injuries causing them concern. They’ve also won each of their last three games on the road. Milwaukee is also riding a two game winning streak over the team from the City of Brotherly Love, who happen to be missing the likely MVP favorite to this point in the season.
The over/under of 235.5 points might seem a bit high, and that’s probably because it is. The total is likely inflated for a few reasons. The Sixers and Bucks have seen their fair share of overs hitting recently, with Milwaukee’s last three games doing so and Philadelphia’s total doing so in three of their last five games. In the Sixers’ last seven games against teams from the Central Division, the over has hit six times.
However, it’s critical to note that while the Sixers and Bucks have been putting up some high totals of their own as of late, those totals have come in large part against bad teams. Milwaukee’s last real test came five games ago against the Denver Nuggets. The Bucks scored just 97 points. Their prior game agains the Clippers? 105 points. While some might point back to Philadelphia’s 131-123 victory on March 3 as an encouraging sign against a contending team, Joel Embiid was in the lineup.
Bets We Like With A Sixers Win
Seth Curry Over 2.5 Made 3-Point Field Goals and Sixers to Win (+700, FOX Bet)
To be clear, we agree with the oddsmakers and projection model that the Milwaukee Bucks should be able to beat the Sixers in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. However, if you’re of the belief that Philadelphia will emerge from the battle of two top-three seeds, consider taking a flier on a player/moneyline parlay that has a chance to hit with a really high upside.
Seth Curry has had an up-and-down season for the Sixers. After shooting a bonkers 59.5% form beyond the arc through the first eight games of the season, he tested positive for COVID and was forced to miss time. Since returning on January 22, Curry has had a few games where he’s looked like himself and stretching the floor as head coach Doc Rivers expected prior to the season.
When the Sixers lost Joel Embiid to a bone bruise in his knee against the Washington Wizards, it created a massive scoring gap that needed to be bridged for Philadelphia to have any shot of retaining the top seed in the East. It’s paid dividends for Curry thus far. Over his last two games, the guard has averaged 20.5 points per game, shooting 16-30 from the field and 7-13 from downtown. If the Sixers are to have any real shot in this one, they’ll need Curry to connect from deep in a big way. He’s made at least three 3-pointers in each of the last two games without Embiid.
If you’re planning on a Sixers moneyline bet, take a flier on this one.
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Bets We Like Independent of Outcome
Bet $10 to Win $50 if the Sixers Score Against the Bucks (FOX Bet)
This promo is for new users only at FOX Bet for tonight’s game between the Sixers and Bucks. New users can turn a $10 wager into up to $50 in free bets at FOX Bet if the Sixers score a point in tonight’s contest. To take advantage of this promotion:
- Register and verify a new FOX Bet account.
- Make a minimum deposit of at least $10.
- Place your first bet on the “5x Your Money If PHI Scores 1+ Point” promotion (under the “Promotions” tab)
- Bet up to $10 on the Sixers to score at least one point against the Bucks.
- Your account will be credited with up to $50 in free bets within 24 hours of the final horn.
This promo is worth a look, especially for bettors interested in opening a new account with FOX Bet.
Double Your Money – Ben Simmons 14+ Points (+100, FOX Bet)
This SuperBoost from FOX Bet isn’t going to make your rich by any stretch, but as far as player props go, this is as close to a surefire win as you’ll find. Ben Simmons is averaging 16 points per game this season and 16.3 points per game in the month of March. He’s scored at least 14 points in 15 consecutive games. In his last 20 games, he’s put up at least 14 points in 18 of those games. With Embiid out of the lineup, expect Simmons to slash to the rim and get plenty of chances in the paint.
Sixers vs. Bucks Prediction
Pick: This game should be close, with Philadelphia locking all windows and doors to keep it close, but it’s going to be a real challenge for the Sixers to topple a healthier squad. Take the Bucks to Win and Under 235.5 Points.
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