Bettors will find just five games on the Thursday NBA odds board, but one of them is a superstar-filled doozy: a 2021 Eastern Conference finals rematch — and a potential 2022 Eastern Conference first-round preview.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks look to move a step closer to clinching their third regular-season conference crown in the last four years when they head to Brooklyn to take on Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and the Nets.
Milwaukee is among four teams in a logjam atop the conference standings, all separated by just two games with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season. Meanwhile, Brooklyn is hoping to at least secure a home game in the NBA’s upcoming play-in tournament.
Two additional playoff-bound teams will square off in the Windy City, where both the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls seek back-to-back victories for the first time in weeks.
Props.com breaks down both matchups in our Thursday NBA odds preview.
Odds via PointsBet USA and updated as of 5 p.m. ET on March 31.
Milwaukee Bucks Vs Brooklyn Nets
Tipoff/TV: 7:40 p.m. ET/TNT
Bucks: 47-28 SU/36-29 ATS
Nets: 40-36 SU/31-43-2 ATS
Spread/Total: Nets -2/243.5
Last meeting: Behind 38 points from Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn edged the Bucks 126-123 as a 9.5-point road underdog on Feb. 26
Did you know: The Nets’ win in Milwaukee last month snapped a four-game SU/ATS losing skid to the Bucks. In addition to dropping Games 6 and 7 of last year’s Eastern Conference finals, Brooklyn was blown out twice this season: 127-104 in Milwaukee (Oct. 19) and 121-109 at home (Jan. 7)
About Milwaukee: The Bucks erased a 10-point halftime deficit Tuesday in Philadelphia, pulling out a 118-116 victory as a one-point underdog. In a stirring battle of MVP candidates, Milwaukee center Giannis Antetokounmpo (40 points, 14 rebounds, six assists) outdueled 76ers center Joel Embiid (29 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists). The Bucks are a modest 3-2 SU/ATS in their last five, but going back to Feb. 28, they’re on an 11-3 SU/10-4 ATS run. The surge has pushed Milwaukee into second place in the Eastern Conference standings, one game behind Miami and one game clear of both Philadelphia and Boston. The Bucks have scored at least 117 points in 14 of their last 17 games; they’ve also surrendered 115-plus in eight of their last 11.
About Brooklyn: The Nets shook off Sunday’s 119-110 upset home loss to Charlotte by knocking off the Pistons 130-123 on Tuesday. However, Brooklyn never threatened to cover as a 14-point home favorite, falling to 1-3 ATS in its last four. On the floor, the Nets are just 4-3 SU/3-4 ATS in their last seven outings, alternating SU wins and losses in their last five. Also, going back to Jan. 25, Brooklyn is 5-9 SU/3-10-1 ATS at home. (However, Irving didn’t make his home debut until Tuesday, and Kevin Durant sat out seven of those 14 contests while recovering from injury.) The Nets almost certainly will be taking part in the NBA play-in tournament, as they sit in eighth place in the East. They’re four games from catching sixth-place Toronto and only one game from falling into 10th place, currently occupied by Atlanta.
Injuries: Antetokounmpo continues to deal with knee soreness but is expected to play Thursday. All other key players for both teams are healthy.
Notable Trends
- Milwaukee is 6-2 ATS in its last eight road games
- Milwaukee is 9-21 ATS in its last 30 as an underdog (2-7 ATS last nine as a road pup)
- Brooklyn is 9-27-1 ATS at home this season
- Brooklyn is 9-24 ATS in its last 33 as a favorite
- Over is 11-5 in Milwaukee’s last 16 overall
- Under is 8-3 in Milwaukee’s last 11 as an underdog
- Milwaukee is 34-16-1 ATS in its last 51 vs. the Nets
- Under is 9-2-1 ATS in the last 12 series meetings
Milwaukee Bucks Vs Brooklyn Nets Odds and Action
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET: About 2.5 hours before tipoff, the Nets are 2-point favorites on PointsBet USA’s Thursday NBA odds board. That’s a flip from the Bucks -2 opener Wednesday afternoon, with the line initially going to Nets -1.5 overnight on the way to -2. That said, Milwaukee is seeing 55% of spread bets and 54% of spread dollars. The total is also on the move, up to 243.5 (Under -115) from a 238 opener, despite 62% of tickets/58% of cash landing on the Under.
Los Angeles Clippers Vs Chicago Bulls
Tipoff/TV: 8:10 p.m. ET/NBA League Pass
Clippers: 37-39 SU & ATS
Bulls: 44-32/40-35-1 ATS
Spread/Total: Bulls -2/221.5
Last meeting: Chicago went to L.A. on Nov. 14 and dumped the Clippers 100-90 as a four-point road underdog.
Did you know: The underdog is just 3-4 SU in the last seven Bulls-Clippers battles, but the underdog is 5-2 ATS
About Los Angeles: The Clippers snapped a five-game SU and ATS losing skid the hard way Tuesday night against Utah, falling behind by 25 points only to rally for a 121-115 victory as a 2.5-point home underdog. Los Angeles, which trailed 32-14 after the opening quarter, got 34 points in less than 31 minutes from star Paul George, who returned to action for the first time since Dec. 22. It was the third time this season the Clippers overcame a 25-point deficit to win a game. Even with the stunning victory, Los Angeles remains all but locked into the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. With six regular-season contests left, the Clippers are 5.5 games behind No. 7 Minnesota and four games ahead of No. 9 New Orleans. L.A. is 1-5 SU/2-4 ATS in its last six road outings.
Editor’s Note: Looking to become a sharper NBA bettor? Check out our NBA betting guide for a few wagering tips.
About Chicago: The Bulls have been scuffling for more than a month, posting just five victories in their last 16 contests while going 4-12 ATS along the way. Chicago did take care of business Tuesday in Washington, rolling 107-94 as a four-point road favorite to cap a five-game road trip. Still, thanks to their monthlong nosedive, the Bulls have plunged from second place in the Eastern Conference standings to a tie for fifth with the Raptors. Chicago and Toronto are 2.5 games behind fourth-place Philadelphia and two games clear of seventh-place Cleveland. Only the top six seeds in each conference avoid the NBA’s play-in tourney. The Bulls, who have played eight of their last nine games on the highway, are 26-10 SU/24-12 ATS on their own floor this season.
Injuries: Bulls shooting guard/leading scorer Zach LaVine (left knee soreness) is listed as probable but is expected to play. Beyond that — and aside from players who are sidelined indefinitely, such as Chicago’s Lonzo Ball (knee) and L.A.’s Kawhi Leonard (ACL recovery) — both teams are healthy.
Notable Trends
- Los Angeles is 1-5 ATS in its last six as an underdog
- Chicago is 1-8 ATS in its last nine when playing on one day of rest
- Chicago is 30-15 ATS as a favorite this season
- Under is 8-2-1 in Los Angeles’ last 11 road games
- Under for Chicago is on runs of 17-5 overall and 5-0 at home
- Chicago is 4-1 ATS in the last five series meetings
- Los Angeles is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 trips to Chicago
- Under is 5-2 in the last seven Clippers-Bulls battles in Chicago
Los Angeles Clippers Vs Chicago Bulls Odds and Action
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET: Three hours before game time, Chicago is a 2-point chalk in PointsBet’s Thursday NBA odds market, down from a -3.5 opener. Still, spread tickets and cash are running 2/1 on the Bulls. The total opened at 223.5 Wednesday afternoon, quickly rose to 224, then bottomed out at 220.5 and is now 221.5. Ticket count is 2/1 on the Over, while money is 2/1 on the Under.
