Just four games dot the Tuesday NBA odds board. But as luck would have it, two matchups involve a quartet of playoff contenders looking to improve their postseason position — but running out of time to do so.
The best of those matchups is a battle of Central Division rivals, as the slumping Chicago Bulls try to gain some positive momentum — both on the court and at the betting window — when they visit the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.
Out in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets look to continue their recent domination of the Los Angeles Clippers, who are mired in a three-game losing skid that has dropped them under .500.
Props.com breaks down both showdowns in our Tuesday NBA betting preview.
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 6 p.m. ET on March 22.
Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks
Tipoff/TV: 8 p.m. ET/NBA League Pass
Bulls: 41-29 SU/37-21-1 ATS
Bucks: 44-27 SU/33-38 ATS
Spread/Total: Bucks -8/234
Last meeting: Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 16 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a 118-112 victory on March 4, barely covering as a 5.5-point road favorite
Did you know: The Bulls walked away with cash in 20 of their last 28 trips to Milwaukee, going 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings dating to March 26, 2017
About Chicago: The Bulls halted a three-game SU/ATS slide with Monday’s 113-99 rout of Toronto, cashing as a 4-point home favorite. Despite that victory, Chicago hits the Tuesday NBA odds board with just three wins in its last 11 games. Even worse, the team is 2-9 ATS during this stretch. It’s the worst spread-covering funk of the season for the Bulls, who started the season 35-12-1 ATS. During its ongoing slump that dates to Feb. 26, Chicago is 1-5 SU/0-6 ATS on the road. The Bulls, who have allowed at least 112 points in nine of their last 13 contests, have dropped to fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. They’re 4.5 games behind first-place Miami and just 2.5 games ahead of No. 7 Toronto. The top six teams in each conference avoid the NBA’s play-in playoff tournament.
About Milwaukee: The Bucks have been idle since Saturday’s 138-119 loss at the Timberwolves as a 3.5-point underdog. Antetokounmpo sat out the game (knee soreness) but is probable for Tuesday (see “injuries” below). Prior to Saturday’s setback, Milwaukee had been on an 8-1 SU/7-2 ATS run. The Bucks have won four in a row at home (3-1 ATS) and have scored at least 120 points in their last seven as a host (average of 125.3 ppg). With 10 regular-season games remaining, Milwaukee is in a flat-footed tie for second place in the East with Philadelphia, with both teams percentage points ahead of Boston (45-28). All three squads are 2.5 games behind the Heat and two games ahead of fifth-place Chicago.
Injuries: Bulls point guard Zach LaVine (team-high 24.6 ppg) remains bothered by a left knee injury. Although he tallied 26 points in 35 minutes Monday against Toronto, LaVine is listed as questionable Tuesday. … While Antetokounmpo (29.8 points, 11.5 rebounds per game) is expected to return, second-leading scorer Khris Middleton (20.4 ppg) is out with a wrist injury.
Editor’s Note: Looking to become a sharper NBA bettor? Check out our NBA betting guide for a few wagering tips.
Notable Trends
- Chicago is 5-16-1 ATS in its last 22 road games
- Chicago is 7-19 ATS in its last 26 as a road underdog
- Milwaukee is 5-1 ATS in its last six as a favorite
- Both teams are 8-1 ATS in their last nine Tuesday games
- Under for Chicago is on runs of 7-1 overall, 4-1 on the road, and 5-2 as an underdog
- Over for Milwaukee is on runs of 13-5 overall and 9-3 at home
- Road team is 11-2 ATS in the last 13 series meetings
- Under is 6-1 in the last six Bulls-Bucks meetings overall
- Under is 4-1 in the last five clashes in Milwaukee
Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks Odds and Action
UPDATE 6 P.M. ET: A couple of hours before tipoff, the Bucks are 8-point favorites on WynnBet’s Tuesday NBA odds board. Milwaukee opened -7 and initially dialed down to -6 Monday evening, then steadily climbed to -8 by early this afternoon. That said, the Bucks are taking a nominal majority 53% of spread tickets, while 71% of spread money is on the underdog Bulls. The total opened at 232.5, receded to 231.5 Monday night, topped out at 235 this morning and is now 234. The Under is seeing 55% of bets/74% of money.
Los Angeles Clippers Vs Denver Nuggets
Tipoff/TV: 10 p.m. ET/TNT
Clippers: 36-37 SU & ATS
Nuggets: 42-30 SU/32-39-1 ATS
Spread/Total: Nuggets -6.5/223
Last meeting: On Jan. 19 in Denver, the Denver rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit and escaped with a 130-128 overtime victory. The Clippers, though, easily cashed as a 9.5-point underdog
Did you know: Los Angeles is 1-2 SU but 3-0 ATS against the Nuggets this season, all as an underdog. In fact, the ’dog is on an 8-1 ATS tear in this rivalry, cashing in the last five in a row
About Los Angeles: The Clippers arrive in the Mile High City off Friday’s ugly 121-92 loss at Utah, a game L.A. trailed 71-34 at halftime. Since blasting the Lakers 132-111 on March 3, the Clippers are just 2-6 SU/3-5 ATS. On Tuesday, L.A. will try to avoid its first four-game losing streak of the season. From a wagering perspective, the Clippers had been on a 10-3 ATS run prior to their current three-game slide. Also, they’ve been money in the bank in recent years when fully rested, going 23-6-1 ATS in their last 30 after three or more days off. With eight games left on its regular-season schedule, L.A. is essentially locked into the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, 4.5 games ahead of the Lakers and six games behind Minnesota.
About Denver: The Nuggets have followed a 12-2 SU run by dropping four of their last six, including the last two in a row: Friday’s 119-116 overtime loss at Cleveland as a 2.5-point road favorite and Sunday’s 124-104 setback to the Celtics as a 3-point home ’dog. Also, after going on a 9-3 ATS roll from Feb. 6-March 6, Denver has cashed just twice in its last eight overall (going 1-5 ATS as a favorite). Defense has betrayed the Nuggets lately, as they’ve surrendered an average of 117 points in their last seven outings. Denver is clinging to the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference, just a half-game ahead of seventh-place Minnesota (two games behind fifth-place Dallas).
Injuries: Aside from injuries that have sidelined top players for both squads all season — L.A.’s Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, and Denver’s Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. — both teams enter this contest healthy.
Notable Trends
- Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS in its last five as an underdog
- Denver is 0-4 ATS in its last four at home
- Denver is 2-6 ATS in its last eight as a home chalk
- Under is 8-1-1 in Los Angeles’ last 10 road games
- Over for Denver is on runs of 4-1 overall and 18-7-2 at home
- Road team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 Nuggets-Clippers battles
- Under is 35-15-2 in the last 52 series meetings (9-2-1 last 12)
Los Angeles Clippers Vs Denver Nuggets Odds and Action
UPDATE 6 P.M. ET: Denver hit WynnBet’s Tuesday NBA odds market as an 8-point chalk and quickly dipped to -6.5, where the line has spent most of today, save for an hour this morning at -6. It’s two-way action, with the Nuggets netting 58% of bets and 51% of cash on the spread. Four hours pre-tipoff, the total is at its peak of 223, from a 220.5 (Over -115) opener and and 219 low point. The Over is attracting 72% of bets/90% of cash.
