The Spurs seem destined to sit at 500 this year. Every time they seem to climb above it, they’ll lose the next couple of games. Coming into this matchup against the Bucks with an 18-18 record, they’ll be a tough matchup for a Bucks team that’s been slipping.
San Antonio has been a challenging team to get the pulse of. Obviously, Wembanyama has been the main star and the best player on both sides of the court, but the rest of this team is intriguing. They’re a nice mixture of veterans and rising young talent. Chris Paul may be the most significant addition to the team compared to last year. Despite not filling up the box score, the way he manages the offense has helped tremendously. Harrison Barnes has been another savvy vet to enter the fold, providing a steady hand on both ends of the court.
They’ve become a formidable team that can run with just about anyone. They want to win, too; this isn’t another tanking year for the Spurs.
This group will be a challenge for the Bucks tonight. The Spurs match up quite well against the them. With Wemby down low to challenge Giannis at the rim and a plethora of quality role players, the Bucks will need their stars to come through tonight.
To win tonight, the Spurs must take advantage of this Milwaukee backcourt. With Khris Middleton still looking slow and Damian Lillard’s defense, they can exploit those matchups all night. This may be a big night for a guy like Stephon Castle or Devin Vassell, who can utilize their size to win the matchup.
However, Wemby may struggle with Brook Lopez and Giannis down low; he’ll probably stick with perimeter shots tonight. If he’s hitting from range, you can feel pretty good that the Spurs will take this game. Even if not, he’ll be able to impact the defensive end enough to allow his team to do the heavy lifting on offense.
This game feels like it should be a win for the Spurs. The Bucks have been slumping lately, and Giannis appears to be dealing with some nagging injuries. Unless Giannis comes out looking dominant or Dame explodes offensively, the Spurs feel like a solid bet tonight on the road!
The Bucks have been up and down all year, but this team is slightly banged up. They’ve lost a few games to bad teams, notably two to Brooklyn and one to Portland, all at home. Something doesn’t look quite right with Giannis. Specifically, in the matchup against Portland, he missed eight shots in the restricted area. That’s unlike him, as he’s usually a sure thing when he gets to the rim. He’s currently listed as probable for tonight's game with a knee injury. Hopefully, it’s something small that won’t require him to miss time, but if one thing is for sure, the Bucks need Giannis to be right to have a chance.
The rest of the team has provided a couple of pleasant surprises. AJ Green is a serviceable backup, keeping his three-point percentage around 40%. Gary Trent and Taurean Price have also provided good minutes for the Bucks. For a team assembled from bits and pieces around three-star-level players, it’s been great to see some role players elevate their game.
Overall, it comes down to those three central stars: Dame, Middleton, and Giannis. Middleton continues to play well below his career averages but has slowly been trending upwards. If he can return to 80% of his former game, he’ll still be an invaluable partner next to Dame and Giannis. Dame has been much more himself this year, almost matching all these career averages. While Giannis has been putting up MVP numbers, scoring more than 30 points a game and 11 rebounds.
The matchup with the Spurs will be intriguing. It’s easy to say the Spurs have more depth, and Wemby down low will make this a challenging game for Giannis. He still can take over, but if he’s not quite as bursty as usual, he may struggle to get past Wemby’s length.
For the Bucks to secure a victory, their guards must step up. They could dismantle this team if Dame and Middleton can maintain solid defense while targeting Chris Paul offensively. Dame has to score efficiently, as he may be the most pivotal player in this matchup. Given his hot streak, there’s a strong possibility he can deliver.
Either way, this game will likely be close until the end. The Spurs will still take this game on the road from Milwaukee. Their team has that extra depth that will matter in a matchup like this. Unless Milwaukee overwhelms them with star power, the Spurs will likely steal this game late in the fourth.
Spurs Injuries:
Jeremy Sochan Out
Bucks Injuries:
Giannis Antetokounmpo Probable
Andre Jackson Jr Probable
Khris Middleton Probable
Spread: +5 SA (-108) / -5 MIL (-112)
Total Points: 226.5
Money line: SA (+164) / MIL (-198)
Giannis Antetokounmpo Under 30.5 Points (-110)
Damian Lillard Over 30.5 Combined Points + Rebounds + Assist (-110)
Chris Paul Over 4.5 Rebounds (+114)
Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 Blocks (+135)