Shortly before the preseason, the Milwaukee Bucks pulled off a blockbuster trade to add another superstar to their stable, acquiring Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers. Tonight, Lillard will make his regular season debut in his new home as he and the Bucks welcome NBA MVP Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers to Fiserv Forum (7:30 pm ET, TNT).
While Milwaukee's new Big Three of Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Khris Middleton is locked in and ready for a run at an NBA title, the 76ers aren't the team that they may be later this season.
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Lillard got his trade wish, but two-time MVP James Harden hasn't received his. For the time being, he's still a Sixer, but how long he will be remains to be seen. Tonight, however, he won't be in action, as he only just recently returned to the team.
Will the Sixers still flourish without Harden? Or will the new-look Bucks roll at home behind their high-scoring superstars?
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Philadelphia 76ers vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction and Best Bets
Prediction: Bucks to win
Best Bets: 76ers/Bucks over 228 (-110 at Bovada) & Bucks -6.5 (-110 at Bovada)
Not only do the Bucks have a new superstar in Lillard, but they also have a new coach in Adrian Griffin.
How will things gel in a meaningful game? That is obviously an unknown at this point, so this pick is more based in how well I think it will go and where I think the Bucks are relative to the 76ers at this point in time.
I don't think that the absence of Harden will have a particularly adverse effect on the Sixers. In fact, they might play better without him.
However, I think the Bucks are in a better place at the moment, and the outcome tonight will reflect that.
Best Player Prop Bets for 76ers vs Bucks
Damian Lillard Over 39.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (+105 at Bovada)
Lillard will continue to do plenty of scoring in his new home, but I think he will establish a new career high in assists per game or come very close to doing so.
Last season, he dropped ten or more dimes 15 times in 58 games on the way to averaging 7.3 assists per game. I expect him to eclipse that number this season, with the first one coming tonight against the Sixers.
Joel Embiid Over 14.5 Rebounds and Assists (-110 at Bovada)
Here are Embiid's rebound and assist numbers from his four games against Milwaukee last season:
April 2 (at Milwaukee): nine rebounds, five assists
March 4 (at Milwaukee): six rebounds, ten assists
November 18 (at Philadelphia): eleven rebounds, eight assists
October 20 (at Philadelphia): twelve rebounds, three assists
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Eddie Griffin has been writing about and betting on sports for over a decade and has been with Betting News since 2021. For more of his thoughts on sports and sports betting, you can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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