The Suns and Bucks will meet in Milwaukee on Sunday in a must-see matinee and a rematch of the 2021 NBA Finals. Today we’ll break down everything you need to know from a betting standpoint for this clash of the titans, including odds, best bets and accessories for the best players.
A lot has changed for these teams in the last three years. The Suns sent Monty Williams packing and brought in Frank Vogel, while the Bucks have shuffled Adrian Griffin and Doc Rivers since firing Mike Budenholzer last summer. Both teams have also changed things up considerably on their defenses over the past year.
Chris Paul is no longer running point guard in Phoenix, with the elite trio of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant now handling most of the ball-handling duties in the Valley and Grayson Allen quietly enjoying his best season as a professional. For Milwaukee, the Damian Lillard-Malik Beasly pairing has meant less defense and more offense than Jrue Holiday/Allen last year, something Rivers has tried to fix since he took over head coaching duties in late January.
We should have some offensive fireworks on Sunday afternoon and we’re looking forward to getting some bets on this one. Let’s get straight to the odds and then look at the stats and trends we need to know, as well as our the best bets and the best accessories from BetMGM.
Bucks vs. Bucks Prediction Suns, player props, bets against the spread and moneyline
All odds and props are from BetMGM, an authorized NBA gaming operator.
- ETA: Dollars -2.5 (-105) | Soles +2.5 (-115)
- Money line: Dollars -140 | Suns +115
- Below: Or 227.5 (-105) | U 227.5 (-115)
It’s no surprise that the Bucks enter the weekend as modest favorites at home. They have won seven of their last 10 games and have an impeccable 26-7 record at Fiserv Forum, where they are averaging 122.8 points per game (third-most points per game at home in the NBA). That’s almost six points per game more than Phoenix’s average on the road this season (117.0).
As for injuries, Milwaukee could be without sharpshooter Malik Beasley (back). However, fellow three-pointer Khris Middleton (ankle) should be ready after being out for weeks. Eric Gordon (knee) and Josh Okogie (abdomen) are considered day-to-day for Phoenix.
Bucks vs Suns predictions and best bets
Doc Rivers and the Bucks are 8-3 since the All-Star break. Milwaukee seems to have adapted to the Doc era, and Doc seems to be a little less curmudgeonly than when he first got the job.
The Bucks have been especially good at home, where they are 26-7 on the season and 10-3 since January. Meanwhile, the Suns have lost five of their last eight road games and have lost each of their last five games against the Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
The biggest problem Phoenix has endured in its most recent stretch of road games, and really all season, has been finding offense outside of the core four of KD, Book, Beal and Allen. With Eric Gordon sidelined against Boston on Thursday’s deadline day signing, Royce O’Neal missed all seven of his shot attempts and no Suns player outside the core four scored more than four baskets.
Phoenix also experiences some size issues against teams like Milwaukee. Jusuf Nurkic has been fantastic on the glass lately, but if he gets into foul trouble against forward players like Giannis, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, trouble will find the Suns quickly.
Milwaukee has been cooking on gas, so we like the Bucks to even the season series 1-1 on Sunday. Phoenix outscored Milwaukee when these teams last met in February (114-106), but Dame didn’t play in that game and the Bucks nearly pulled off an upset in enemy territory. This should be all Milwaukee, with Giannis and Lillard combining for over 60 and the Bucks earning their 27th home win.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Dollars 123, Soles 115 – The Bucks gain (-140) and cover (-2.5), and the score ends well ON the projected total (227.5).
Bucks vs. Suns: support bet for the best player
Brook Lopez Blocks – LESS than 1.5 (+110)
Last year, BroLo’s OVER on blocks was practically a block from game to game. This year, the veteran center remains solid defensively, but often looks a little slower around the rim in his age-35 season. He has fewer than two blocks in 20 games this season and in four of Milwaukee’s last seven games. Phoenix has delivered the seventh-fewest hits this season (4.7 per game), and we simply don’t see many Suns testing BroLo anywhere near the interior. This should be an easy UNDER.
