Jason Collins
Dailysports's expert
Milwaukee Bucks
Detroit Pistons
In Thursday's packed NBA schedule, we’ll see the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Detroit Pistons. Here’s my betting analysis for this matchup—can the Bucks snap out of their early-season slump?
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have had a rocky start to the season. Despite their roster and expectations of competing at the top of the Eastern Conference, they’ve only managed to win 3 out of 11 games, putting them in the 12th spot.
In their last game, Milwaukee finally showed their potential with a commanding home victory over the Toronto Raptors, winning 99-85. This could be the start of a turnaround. The team’s struggle is a bit puzzling given their solid play; it seems cohesion is the missing piece. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a consistent force, averaging 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists. Notably, the team will be without Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton in this matchup, with two other players also questionable.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons’ situation is different, as expectations were low to begin with, but they’ve managed to secure a decent seventh place in the conference. However, it’s a bit misleading, as they only have 5 wins out of 12 games.
In their latest game, Detroit pulled off a narrow win over the Miami Heat at home, 123-121, clinching victory in overtime. Cade Cunningham, their young star, is stepping up with impressive averages of 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. While Detroit’s start is decent, a playoff push still seems unlikely for this squad.
Match Facts
- Milwaukee has won only 2 out of their 5 home games this season.
- Detroit has 2 road wins and 3 losses on the season.
- Betting Odds: Milwaukee Win (W1) – 1.47, Detroit Win (W2) – 2.76
Key Player
Giannis Antetokounmpo is undoubtedly the main star and will be the key player to watch in this matchup.
Head-to-Head
The Bucks have a strong record against the Pistons, having won all four matchups last season.
Prediction
The Bucks are slight favorites here, and that makes sense—they’re expected to rise in the standings as the season progresses. I anticipate an exciting game with Milwaukee ultimately prevailing. My recommendation is to bet on the Bucks to cover a -4.5 point spread.
