Free NBA Pick: Bulls vs. Bucks NBA Odds
Looking for Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks free NBA picks & NBA Odds? NBA betting sees the Bulls taking on the Bucks on Wednesday, April 20th, 2022 at Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Bulls Bucks matchup.
2022 NBA Playoffs Handicapping Round 1
(0-1) Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks (1-0)
Date: Wednesday, April 20th
Time: 9:30 PM (ET)
Venue: Fiserv Forum Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
NBA Moneyline Odds: Bulls +450 | Bucks -475 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Bucks -10
NBA Betting Total: 225
Game two between the sixth-seed Chicago Bulls and third-seed Milwaukee Bucks tips off on Wednesday, April 20th, 2022. Milwaukee won the opening game 93-86.
Milwaukee swept the season series with wins on January 21st (94-90), March 4th (118-112), March 22nd (126-98), and April 5th (126-106).
The Bulls hold the all-time record having bested the Bucks in 132 of their 259 matches.
This will be the fifth time the teams have played in the postseason, Milwaukee won 4-0 in 1974 (Conference finals), 3-1 in 1985 (first round) while Chicago won two opening-round series, 3-1 in 1990 and 4-2 in 2015.
Chicago Bulls
Of the four Eastern series, this one was projected to be the least competitive given how the Bulls finished the season and are their first-round opponent – the defending champions. Yet, this was one of the more competitive matches of the openers.
Chicago fell behind by 13 points in the opening frame and as the Bucks widened that margin to 16 points it seemed like the Bulls were about to be pummelled.
Instead, they locked in defensively, showed grit, and battled back to take a lead midway through the fourth quarter ultimately succumbing to the Bucks. Neither team shot the ball particularly well highlighted by a 15-19 final frame.
The opener marked Zach LaVine’s playoff debut and he learned immediately how different the postseason stage is. Both LaVine (18 points 10 rebounds) and Nikola Vucevic (24 points, 17 rebounds) collected double-doubles.
DeMar DeRozan produced 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals while Coby White (12) was the other double-figure contributor.
The Bulls shot an anemic 32.3 percent from the field and 18.9 percent from the perimeter. DeRozan (6 of 25), Vucevic (9 of 27), and LaVine (6 of 19) combined to shoot 21 of 71 or 29.5 percent,
Matt Thomas (leg) was downgraded to out on Wednesday. Lonzo Ball (knee) remains out indefinitely.
Milwaukee Bucks
This initial game for the Bucks highlighted having too long off between matches can lead those cold shooting nights. Fortunately, defense is easy to summon regardless of time off.
Giannis Antetokounmpo registered a double-double of 27 points and 16 rebounds plus three assists and two blocks. Bobby Portis (10 points, 12 rebounds) also collected a double-double.
Five Bucks scored in double-digits including Brook Lopez (18), Jrue Holiday (15), and Khris Middleton I11).
Losing the 16=point lead highlighted that even teams like Milwaukee can lose focus, but coming back to regain the lead and close the match with a victory also provided evidence of the club’s prowess on either end of the court.
Jordan Nwora (back) and George Hill (abdominal) are both questionable for Wednesday.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Chicago is 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.
- Milwaukee is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago’s last 7 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Milwaukee’s last 7 games.
- The Bulls are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games as an underdog.
- The Bucks are 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 Conference Quarterfinals games.
Free Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks NBA Prediction
Although the Bucks are a two-way team the Bulls’ identity is primarily tied to their offense as the defense was only sparkling earlier in the season prior to Lonzo Ball’s injury.
Chicago averaged 111.6 points per game during the season while Milwaukee averaged 115.5 – a far cry from the 93-86 tally of Game 1.
I’d love to give Bulls fans some hope their team’s effort and the Bucks’ struggles will happen again resulting in a Bulls victory but history suggests it won’t.
In the past two seasons through six playoff series, the Bucks have only won the opening game on one occasion and even then it required overtime to decide.
That likely means the Bucks are set for a more complete effort. As for the Bulls, they might have let the opportunity of capturing at least one victory in this series slip through their fingers.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Bulls +10
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