NBA Thursday: Greg Frank picks Trail Blazers vs Bucks – will Damian Lillard play?
2-1 Wednesday night, 31-22-1 overall.
Trail Blazers (+13) @ Bucks (229)
Pick: Under 229
There are only two games in the NBA on Thursday, but we do see some value in one of the totals. The first game on the TNT doubleheader features the Portland Trail Blazers visiting the Milwaukee Bucks. Portland has been one of the league’s biggest disappointments in the first month of the season along with San Antonio. Both teams are 5-10 as the season approaches its quarter turn. Portland did not have Damian Lillard on Tuesday night in New Orleans due to back spasms and we’ll see if the star point guard gives it a go tonight. If Lillard misses another game, that only adds to our case for going under 229. The Bucks just played last night against Atlanta on the road and won a 135-127 track meet. On the second leg of a back-to-back, with another game on Saturday for the Bucks, we’re guessing they’ll slow things down against a Portland team that has only scored above 108 points once in its last five games. Had Portland shown the slightest bit of life on Tuesday against the Pelicans, the Trail Blazers getting this many points would be a nice play as well. But the Trail Blazers losing by double digits to a team that has actually struggled just as much as they have so far this season isn’t exactly a buy sign. We’ll bank on Milwaukee doing the bare minimum to get in and get out tonight. That may not mean the Bucks cover this big point spread, but it should mean the game stays under a decently high total.
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