Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia-76ers Picks and Predictions January 19th 2025

Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia-76ers January 19th 2025

At 7:00 ET, the 76ers (15-25) will take on the Bucks (23-17) in Milwaukee. The Bucks are favored by 11 points and have won three straight games. The 76ers have lost five in a row and are 11th in the Eastern Conference.

This Eastern Conference matchup will be played at Fiserv Forum and can be seen on NBCS. The over/under line for this game is 223 points.

76ers vs. Bucks Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks
• Where: Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum
• Date: Sunday, January 19th
• Betting Odds MIL -11, PHI +392 | MIL -521 O/U 223

The 76ers Can Win If…

Philadelphia’s season record fell to 15-25 after a 115-102 road loss to the Pacers on Saturday. The 76ers entered the game as +10.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread, losing by 13. The total points for the game were 217, falling short of the 224.5 O/U line.

Philadelphia went on an 11-0 run, extending their lead from 61-57 to 72-57. However, the Pacers responded by outscoring the 76ers 28-21 in the 3rd quarter and 26-22 in the 4th, pulling away for the win.

In their loss to the Pacers, the 76ers managed just 102 points, shooting 42.7% from the field. Their three-point shooting was a struggle, hitting only 29.4% with 10 made threes.

Tyrese Maxey led the way with 28 points, scoring 10 in the 2nd quarter. Ricky Council and Kelly Oubre each added 18 points, with Council contributing 9 in the final period.

The 76ers struggled defensively against the Pacers, allowing 115 points on 53% shooting in their loss on Saturday. Philadelphia gave up 28 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters and 33 in the 2nd, but they tightened up in the 4th, allowing just 26 points.

From beyond the arc, the 76ers held Indiana to 32% shooting, with the Pacers making 11 threes. The Pacers also went 16/23 from the free-throw line. Philadelphia recorded 8 steals and 1 block, while giving up 14 offensive rebounds.

• Across their three previous road games, Philadelphia has an ATS mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-2 while averaging 108 points per game.
• Going back to their last three games as the underdog, the 76ers have a straight up record of 0-3. But, their mark vs the spread was just 0-2-1.
• Over their last three games, the 76ers have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 0-2-1 vs. the spread.

The Bucks Can Win If…

The Bucks improved to 23-17 on the season with a 130-112 win over the Raptors on Friday. Milwaukee, playing at home, was favored by 11 points and covered the spread, while the total score of 242 points went over the pre-game line of 233.5.

Milwaukee jumped out to a 37-22 lead after the 1st quarter. The teams played evenly in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but the Bucks went on a 10-0 run, extending the score from 107-88 to 117-88, before closing out the game by outscoring the Raptors 23-21 in the 4th quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a 130-point performance in their win over the Raptors, shooting 60% from the field and finishing with 35 points and 13 rebounds. Damian Lillard added 26 points, hitting 4 threes at a 57.1% clip, while Bobby Portis contributed 15 points.

Milwaukee shot 51.9% overall, connecting on 41.9% of their threes with 13 makes. Giannis scored 12 points in the 3rd quarter, while Lillard put up 12 in the 1st and added 10 more in the 2nd.

Despite a rough 2nd and 3rd quarter, the Bucks’ defense clamped down in the 4th, allowing just 21 points to secure the win. They held the Raptors to 112 points on 47% shooting.

Milwaukee excelled at defending the three, limiting Toronto to 8 made threes on 23% shooting. The Bucks also recorded 7 steals and 5 blocks.

• Although Milwaukee has a straight up record of 6-4 in their last ten home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 5-5. The team averaged 113 points per game in these games.
• As the betting favorite, the Bucks have an ATS record of 4-1 in their last five games. In these matchups their, straight up record was 5-0.
• In their last three games, the Bucks have an over/under record of 3-0 and are 3-0 vs. the spread.

The Lean

For a pick on the point-spread in this Bucks vs. 76ers matchup, our bet is to grab the 76ers at +11. Even though our projections have the Bucks winning 140-133, we see the 76ers as the play on the point-spread.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 223, and our model predicts the 76ers and Bucks to score a combined 273 points. We recommend betting on the over.

Bucks Look to Build Momentum Against Reeling 76ers

The Milwaukee Bucks will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night, seeking to extend their winning streak to four games and secure a sixth consecutive victory in their series against the Sixers. Both teams are trending in opposite directions, with Milwaukee surging and Philadelphia struggling to find answers amidst a host of injuries.

Bucks: Hitting Their Stride

Milwaukee (21-9 in their last 30 games) has found its rhythm after a shaky start to the season. The Bucks capped a three-game winning streak with a dominant 130-112 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, averaging 31.4 points and 11.9 rebounds this season, scored 35 points in the win, while Damian Lillard contributed 26 points, including 22 in the first half. Lillard continues to lead Milwaukee in assists (7.2) and steals (1.3), forming a dynamic duo with Antetokounmpo.

Despite the victory, head coach Doc Rivers believes the Bucks have room to improve offensively. “I’m not disappointed, I just think we can play better,” Rivers said.

Milwaukee’s injury report is relatively clean, with AJ Green (quad) and Andre Jackson Jr. (hip) questionable, while MarJon Beauchamp (illness) and Khris Middleton (ankles) are listed as probable.

76ers: Struggling to Stay Competitive

Philadelphia (2-8 in their last 10 games) enters Sunday’s contest reeling from a five-game losing streak, including a 115-102 defeat to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 28 points in the loss, but a depleted roster limited their competitiveness.

Joel Embiid, the Sixers’ centerpiece, remains out due to knee swelling and is expected to be re-evaluated next week. Paul George (groin), Guerschon Yabusele (knee), and Caleb Martin (groin) are also sidelined, while Kyle Lowry’s (hip) availability is uncertain. Rookie Jared McCain (knee) has been ruled out for the season, adding to Philadelphia’s depth woes.

Head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged the challenge of navigating the season without his star players. “It’s been like the other pieces have been scattered so much. That’s been difficult,” he said. “But 90 percent of the time, I think about how in the hell are we going to win tomorrow night?”

Maxey has been a bright spot for the Sixers, leading the team with 26.1 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Andre Drummond contributes 7.7 rebounds per game but will need help containing Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee’s high-powered offense.

Key Matchups

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. 76ers’ Frontcourt: With Embiid sidelined, Antetokounmpo could dominate the paint against Philadelphia’s weakened interior defense.
2. Tyrese Maxey vs. Damian Lillard: Maxey’s scoring prowess will be tested against Lillard, who can take over games with his playmaking and three-point shooting.
3. Bucks’ Depth vs. Sixers’ Short Rotation: Milwaukee’s healthy roster and bench depth could overwhelm a Sixers team struggling with injuries.

Historical Edge

Milwaukee has dominated the head-to-head series, winning five straight against Philadelphia, including a 124-109 victory in the season opener. In that game, Lillard led the Bucks with 30 points, while Maxey paced the Sixers with 25 points.

Stakes

The Bucks are focused on maintaining their upward trajectory and proving they can reach another level offensively. For the 76ers, a win would be a morale boost and a step toward breaking their current slump, but their injury woes present a daunting challenge.

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Conclusion

Milwaukee’s potent offense and depth give them the upper hand against a short-handed Philadelphia squad. Can the Bucks continue their dominance in the series, or will Maxey and the Sixers pull off an upset? Tune in Sunday to see if Milwaukee shifts into a higher gear or if Philadelphia can right the ship.