Warriors to Give Lillard Flashbacks of Portland Years
Bucks vs Warriors Lines, Totals and More
The Golden State Warriors return home on Wednesday to face the Milwaukee Bucks in a game featuring two of the last three NBA Champions.
The Warriors, coming off a scorching hot February, will look to get back on track after losing by 52 in Boston, while the Bucks seem to finally have put things together after their mid-season coaching change from Adrian Griffin to Doc Rivers.
The spread is set at Warriors -4.5 at home, and the total is set to 226.5. Can the Warriors listen to coach Steve Kerr and take their recent loss and “flush it down the toilet,” or will the Bucks showcase their championship-caliber talents and steal a victory on the road?
Let’s dive into this matchup and check out Bucks vs Warriors lines and odds.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Golden State Warriors 
Day/Time:
Location: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Streaming: TNT
Wow, That Was Ugly
The Warriors’ last game was downright ugly. They lost embarrassingly to the league’s best Boston Celtics on Sunday in a game that was over by the end of the first quarter. Not even the best NBA predictions could have seen the 2022 Finals rematch ending in a 52-point blowout.
Before Sunday’s game, it seemed as if the Warriors had turned a corner and were ready for a playoff push (their NBA playoffs odds recently climbed to -130 to make the playoffs), but a dismal performance on Sunday has the doubters feeling good.
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Optimists will look at the Warriors’ play in February and say their aging Hall-of-Fame core is ready for another championship run. They were 3rd in offensive rating, 7th in defensive rating, and 3rd in net rating, with a record of 11-3 (and 11-3 ATS) over the month.
The recipe is still the same. Stephen Curry is still a top-five player in the league, Draymond a top-five defender, and Klay Thompson’s recent move to 6th man has increased his scoring and efficiency. In their careers together, these three have an .810 winning percentage when playing at home.
However, the team being only 14-17 ATS at home this season is reason for pause. The Warriors will also have Andrew Wiggins, who missed the last four games for personal reasons, back on Wednesday.
Bucks Back on Track
After a shaky start to the Doc Rivers era in Milwaukee, the Bucks seem to have finally figured things out. They currently stand as the #2 seed in the East and are a league-best 6-0 since the all-star break.
Many believe the Bucks’ turnaround can be credited to a change in their defensive scheme from Adrian Griffin’s switch-heavy scheme back to the drop-coverage scheme that made them a top-tier defense for years.
According to NBA team stats, Milwaukee is currently 12th in defended field goal percentage at 46.9%, which has dropped to the league’s best 40.8% since the all-star break.
On Monday, the Bucks continued their winning streak with a comeback win over the Los Angeles Clippers. They overcame a 15-point second-half deficit while missing their franchise superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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Giannis was a late scratch on Monday with Achilles tendinitis, and his status on Wednesday will be crucial for the Bucks’ chances. If Giannis is out again, look at Patrick Beverley, who replaced him in the starting lineup on Monday for 12 pts/9 rebs, for some potential prop bets.
Steph has Dame’s Number
The Bucks vs. Warriors lines opened at Warriors -4.5 and over/under 226.5. The Warriors are 33-26-1 ATS and 29-30-1 on totals this season, while the Bucks are 26-35 ATS and 30-31 on totals. Look at the under on Wednesday, as Golden State has gone under in each of its last seven games, and Milwaukee has done the same in its last six.
The Milwaukee Bucks vs Warriors lines have the Warriors as 4.5-point favorites at home, likely factoring in Giannis to miss Wednesday’s game. If Giannis misses another game on Wednesday, the matchup to look at is Damian Lillard vs Stephen Curry.
Not to trigger Trail Blazers fans, but Curry has dominated Lillard over their careers. Since Lillard entered the league, Curry is 26-8 against Dame.
Some may blame Lillard’s lackluster supporting cast over the years, but we can call a spade a spade: it is hard to beat the greatest point guard of all time. Take the moneyline of Warriors -180 if you think this dominance will continue.
For NBA betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
