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The Philadelphia 76ers (49-28) will host the Milwaukee Bucks (58-20) on Thursday in the season finale between two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
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Milwaukee has already clinched their division and hold the top spot in the East, while Philadelphia is 8.5 games behind them in third place. Milwaukee is the favorite on the road at -4.5.
This matchup won’t change anything before the playoffs, but it could give the winner some confidence. The difference between the 76ers home and away record is worth noting. They have gone 30-9 at home and just 19-19 on the road. They’ll finish off a three-game road stretch against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. After defeating the Timberwolves in Jimmy Butler’s return to Minnesota on Saturday, the 76ers lost in Dallas 122-102 on Monday.
Injuries are the Story
Philadelphia, playing without starters Joel Embiid and Butler, went more than 10 minutes without a field goal spanning the second and third quarters. Dallas took advantage to build a 20-point lead early in the third and protected it from there.
Playing without Embiid (load management) and Butler (back tightness), Philadelphia leaned heavily on its three other regular starters. J.J. Redick had 26 points, while Tobias Harris added 25 and Simmons 17.
“When they made their big punch at the end of the second quarter, we didn’t punch back,” Harris said.
The 76ers and Bucks have split the season series 1-1. Milwaukee took game one, 123-108, back on Oct. 24. Philadelphia bounced back with a 130-125 victory over the Bucks on March 17.
Possible MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo won the scoring matchup, but Embiid and the 76ers won the game. Antetokounmpo poured in a career-high 52 points, yet Embiid had 40 points and 15 rebounds to lead the 76ers. Antetokounmpo was 15 of 26 from the field, including 3 of 8 from 3-point range, and made 19 of 21 free throws to better his previous career best by eight points.
The 7-foot, 260-pound Embiid challenged his shots and trips into the paint.
“He’s (Embiid) a tough guy,” Antetokounmpo said. “He’s a great defender, strong. It was kind of hard going at him.”
Embiid was up to the challenge of guarding Antetokounmpo.
“I thought we all did a pretty good job in the first half,” Embiid said. “In the second half, he kind of got going. He is tough to guard.”
It was the fifth time this season Embiid scored 40 or more points and came in his fourth game back after missing nine straight with left knee soreness.
“They are the best team in the NBA right now, as far as record goes,” Embiid said. “No. 1 in our conference. I felt like we had to make a statement. We had to get this win.”
The Bucks are fresh off a 131-121 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. With four games remaining, they close out their season against three playoff teams (Philadelphia, Brooklyn, OKC) and an Atlanta Hawks team that defeated them in overtime on Sunday.
Bucks Top 76ers
There’s always a chance that both coaches decide to rest some of their starters in preparation for the playoffs. This looks like a game that the Bucks should win and should win easily. Milwaukee is having a tremendous season, and they are our pick to win this game. Bet the Bucks -4.5 over the 76ers.
