Wells Fargo Center showcases a headline-grabbing NBA matchup on Friday evening. The Milwaukee Bucks visit the Philadelphia 76ers for the 15th game of the season on both sides. Milwaukee is 11-3, while Philadelphia is 7-7 amid injury challenges. James Harden (foot), Jaden Springer (quad), and Furkan Korkmaz (knee) are out for the Sixers. Tobias Harris (hip) is listed as questionable. Jrue Holiday (ankle) is listed as questionable for the Bucks, with Khris Middleton (wrist), Wesley Matthews (hamstring), Pat Connaughton (calf), and Joe Ingles (knee) ruled out.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Philadelphia as a 1-point home favorite for this for 7:30 p.m. ET tip. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 211 in the latest 76ers vs. Bucks odds. Before making any Bucks vs. 76ers picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 100-66 roll on all top-rated NBA picks that dates back to last season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Sixers and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Sixers vs. Bucks:
- Bucks vs. 76ers spread: 76ers -1
- Bucks vs. 76ers over/under: 211 points
- Bucks vs. 76ers money line: 76ers -115, Bucks -105
- MIL: The Bucks are 10-4 against the spread this season
- PHL: The 76ers are 7-7 against the spread this season
- Bucks vs. 76ers picks
Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee is keyed by a generational player in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time NBA MVP is averaging 29.9 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game this season, and Antetokounmpo is shooting 51.1% from the field to go along with elite defense. He leads an offense that is in the top six of the NBA in free throw creation, averaging 24.8 attempts per game, and Milwaukee is also in the top six of the league with a 31.4% offensive rebound rate.
On defense, the Bucks are No. 1 in the league in overall efficiency, allowing fewer than 1.05 points per possession. Milwaukee also leads the NBA in field goal percentage allowed (43.9%), 2-point percentage allowed (48.5%), and assists allowed (20.9 per game). The Bucks are elite in free throw prevention, giving up only 19.9 attempts per game, and Philadelphia is averaging only 108.5 points per game this season.
Why the 76ers can cover
Philadelphia's two-way metrics are strong. The Sixers are in the top five of the NBA in turnover prevention on offense, giving the ball away only 13.2 times per game. Philadelphia is above-average in free throw creation (23.8 attempts per game) and free throw accuracy (80.5%), with Joel Embiid playing at an elite level. Embiid has 101 points in the last two games, including a one-of-a-kind effort against Utah with 59 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and seven blocked shots.
On defense, Philadelphia is in the top five in overall efficiency, giving up only 1.09 points per possession. The 76ers lead the NBA in 3-point defense, with opponents shooting only 31.5%, and Philadelphia is in the top eight in steals (8.5 per game) and assists allowed (23.6 per game). Milwaukee is in the bottom five of the NBA in field goal percentage, 2-point percentage and free throw percentage.
How to make Bucks vs. 76ers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, with seven players projected to score at least 13 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60% of simulations.
