Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/17/2022

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI 

Where to watch: TNT

DraftKings: NL

WynnBET: Bucks -6

Caesars: NL

Season record

76ers: 34-23

Bucks: 36-23

Tuesday was not a fun day for the Philadelphia 76ers.

James Harden was in the building, wearing something fresh out of a thrift shop. That was probably the first omen to what was to come. Philly was blown out 135-87 at home against the Boston Celtics in what was just an absurd shellacking.

Joel Embiid was held to 19 points on 3 of 9 shooting, and his teammates didn’t help the cause. Every player scored, but only Tyrese Maxey was the other Sixer to score in double figures with 11 points. Overall, Philly shot an abysmal 28.7 percent from the floor and 8 of 32 from 3-point range.

"They were better in every way: coaching, playing and if there's another category, they were better in that, too," 76ers coach Doc Rivers said.

Harden, who was introduced as a member of the 76ers for the first time Tuesday, will not play until after the All-Star break. The former MVP’s debut is likely set for Feb. 25 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but that time can’t come soon enough.

Boston showed that star power was going to rule the day. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 57 points to drop the Sixers to 3-4 in their last seven games. It was a game like that where Philly missed Seth Curry coming off screens for an easy 3-pointer, or Andre Drummond patrolling the paint and at least putting some sort of body in the paint.

The Sixers can only hope that a motivated Harden will show up for that first game. For now, they have to go without him and rely on Embiid for one more Herculean effort.

The defending NBA champions have had an up-and-down season by their standards. But Tuesday was another reminder that the Milwaukee Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo and 29 other teams don’t.

Antetokounmpo had 50 points and 14 rebounds in Tuesday’s home win against the Indiana Pacers, but barely held on for a 128-119 win against the struggling Pacers. Khris Middleton had 19 points and a team-high eight assists, as the Bucks shot 55.8 percent from the field.

Milwaukee had to withstand Buddy Hield’s 36 points.

"Obviously, it's a nice feeling to have 50, you'll always remember it, but I care about the win. I want to win games," Antetokounmpo said. "We have another one on Thursday. We'll try to finish and go to the All-Star break on a good note. As long as we're winning, I'm good. You do whatever it takes. If you are thinking about let me get to 50, let me get mine, it doesn't work that way. You have to focus on winning games."

The Bucks have not appeared to be the dangerous threat many expected them to be this season. The Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers are ahead of Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference standings. Ultimately, it’s going to come down to Giannis and how he takes over the game. Drop more 50 pieces and that’ll be easy.

The Sixers are coming in as high as 6-point underdogs in some books, which has the early impression of being a tad high, but I understand. The under has cashed in the Sixers’ last seven when they’ve been road underdogs. I don’t envision them taking another night off with less than 90 points for a second straight game. Milwaukee’s defense has been too shotty as of late to think Embiid won’t improve with the more touches he gets. Philly has also covered the last five as road dogs, so that’s something to keep in mind here. But if this gets out of hand, expect the Bucks’ offense to show out again. The over has gone 6-0 in Milwaukee’s last six, and the last five when the opponent gives up 100 points or more the previous game. I don’t think it’s going to be a blowout, but I’m very much into the Bucks getting the win and covering. Bucks by 10

The 76ers are 1-10 ATS when a road dog between 6.5 and 12 points.

The 76ers are 25-12 ATS after failing to cover the last five or six of seven ATS.

The Bucks are 105-100 ATS as a favorite over the past three seasons.

76ers:

PG: Tyrese Maxey

SG: Furkan Korkmaz

SF: Matisse Thybulle

PF: Tobias Harris

C: Joel Embed

Bucks:

PG: Jrue Holiday

SG: Khris Middleton

SF: Grayson Allen

PF: Giannis Antetokoounmpo

C: Bobby Portis

76ers: James Harden (hamstring, out)

Bucks: Pat Connaughton (hand, out), George Hill (neck, out), Wesley Matthews (toe, day-to-day)

76ers:

Points: Joel Embiid -- 29.3

Rebounds: Joel Embiid -- 11.1

Assists: James Harden -- 10.2

Bucks:

Points: Giannis Antetokounmpo -- 29.1

Rebounds: Giannis Antetokounmpo -- 11.2

Assists: Jrue Holiday -- 6.7