The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, as they hold a two-game lead over the Boston Celtics with four games to play.
It starts on Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards, who are mailing in this season after getting eliminated from play-in tournament contention in the East.
Washington is expected to sit four veteran starters in this game: Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, Monte Morris and Kyle Kuzma.
The Wizards deployed this strategy on Sunday against the New York Knicks, and they blew a double-digit first-half lead to eventually lose by nine. New York didn’t have RJ Barrett or Julius Randle in that game.
Milwaukee won’t have Khris Middleton (knee injury management) or Grayson Allen (ankle) on Tuesday night, but that shouldn’t hold them back against this makeshift Wizards squad.
The Bucks have thrived as road favorites this season, and this game shouldn’t be any different:
Bucks vs. Wizards odds, spread and total
Bucks vs. Wizards prediction and pick
So far this season, the Bucks are No. 2 in the league against the spread as road favorites, posting a 16-6-3 record.
Meanwhile, Washington has struggled mightily as a road underdog (8-12 ATS), and now it’s down arguably its four best players in this game.
Since the Bucks still have some work to do to lock up the No. 1 seed, I have no problem laying the points with them here. There is a huge incentive to earn the No. 1 spot in the East, as it would likely help the team avoid the Miami Heat (currently the No. 7 seed) in the first round of the playoffs.
Plus, the Bucks would lock up home court advantage for the entirety of their playoff run this season.
Washington simply doesn’t have the offensive firepower necessary to keep pace with Giannis Antetokounmpo and company tonight.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.