NBA Betting: Bucks Aim To Slow Down Nets

Down 2-0 in their second-round series with the Brooklyn Nets, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks face a must-win game Thursday night when they host the Nets in Game 3.

It looked like Milwaukee had a good shot at tying the series in Game 2 with the Nets missing James Harden, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury. Harden’s absence proved to be meaningless as the Nets crushed the Bucks 125-86 as a 1.5-point home underdog.

Kevin Durant led Brooklyn with 32 points and Kyrie Irving added 22 in the blowout win. Antetokounmpo had a disappointing game for Milwaukee with a team-high 18 points.

With Harden still questionable for Game 3, Milwaukee is listed as a 3-point home favorite at Bovada Sportsbook. The Bucks can only hope heading home will give them a chance as they have won 10 straight games at Fiserv Forum. They haven’t always been a great bet during that streak, though, with a 6-4 record against the spread.

The Nets are 11-1 straight up and ATS in their last 12 games. They’re also 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four road games. Before the Game 2 win, the Nets were 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS in their previous seven games as an underdog. When the Nets are an underdog, the UNDER has been a solid play for totals bettors, as the UNDER is 7-2 in their last nine.

Jazz favored to extend series lead over visiting Clippers

Also on the schedule Thursday night is Game 2 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz. The Jazz hold a 1-0 series lead after taking the opener Tuesday night 112-109 as a 3-point favorite. Donovan Mitchell led Utah with 45 points in the win. Kawhi Leonard netted 23 points for the Clippers and Paul George added 20.

In Game 2, the Jazz are a 3-point home favorite at Bovada. They are on a five-game winning streak at 4-0-1 ATS, and in their last eight games they’re 7-1 SU and 6-1-1 ATS. At home, Utah is 8-2 SU in its last 10 but only 6-4 ATS.

After needing seven games to get past the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round, the Clippers are 4-2 SU and 4-1-1 ATS in their last six games, and 4-6 SU and 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10. Prior to the Game 1 loss against Utah, the Clippers had won three in a row on the road SU and ATS.

Utah is 3-1 SU and 2-1-1 ATS this season against the Clippers. The Jazz have dominated this matchup at home with a 9-2 record SU, but they’re only 5-6 ATS.