KEY POINTS

  • Bucks and Sixers will face off in Philly on Christmas
  • Bucks are favored on the road
  • Total points projection is pegged at 220.5

The Milwaukee Bucks are going to spend Christmas Day on the road when they travel all the way to downtown Philadelphia to battle the Sixers inside the Wells Fargo Center.

The Bucks, winners of 21 of their last 22 outings, are the best team in the NBA right now. At 27-4 overall, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his crew don't seem to be bothered by any drawback of playing as visitors. They have won 12 of their 14 games so far away from Wisconsin, and are bossing around their East counterparts, 17-2.

They dealt a 117-89 drubbing on the Indiana Pacers the last timeout as they show no signs of stepping on the break.

The Sixers will bank on their defensive arsenal anew to protect their home from getting spoiled for Christmas. They are fifth in the conference at 22-10 while being pretty devastating as hosts, 15-2.

As their engine heats up for another winning run, Philly is expected to let Ben Simmons attack the gut of the Bucks' defense. The ploy has done wonders as it opened up spaces for other scorers to launch. Prior to their easy wins against the Wizards and Pistons, the Sixers had been tripped by a three-game slide that saw them struggle against the zone defense employed by their opponents.

Odds and Trends:

The visiting Bucks are pegged as three-point favorites against the Sixers. The total line is offered at 221.5.

Hot trends show the Bucks winning ATS six times in their last seven games overall. It also revealed the same record when they are tagged as favorites, 6-1 ATS.

The Sixers being dragged down to underdogs when playing at home does not happen every day. If it does, though, the team makes sure to beat the handicap. In the last five times of such instances, Philly defeated the spread, 4-1.

The OVER selection is owning the total line trend. In the last five times the Bucks faced a team with a winning straight up record, the total points went OVER the market line. Same for the Sixers whose totals went OVER in their last four games overall.

Prediction:

Straight up: Bucks

ATS: Bucks

Total: Over

Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on March 30, 2018 in Los Angeles. Harry How/Getty Images
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