- What: NBA Regular Season Game
- When: October 23, 2024
- Who: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- Time: 4:30 p.m. PST
- Where: Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, PA)
On Wednesday night, the Philadelphia 76ers will host the Milwaukee Bucks in their NBA season opener at Wells Fargo Center.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are entering the upcoming game with a full, healthy lineup led by forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and point guard Damian Lillard.
Last season, the Bucks achieved an impressive record of 44-21. With Lillard and Giannis both in good shape, the team has a strong chance of winning this game.
It’s important to note that the Sixers will be missing their MVP center Joel Embiid and forward Paul George in this matchup. Embiid is recovering from a knee injury, while George sustained a knee injury during a preseason game.
Without these two star players, the Sixers will face significant challenges in devising their game plan.
It's time.#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/cZuRev7t66
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 23, 2024
Although point guard Tyrese Maxey is available, his presence may not be sufficient to keep up with the scoring power of the Bucks. With George and Embiid absent, the 76ers may struggle to contain Giannis and Lillard.
Last season, the Bucks ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 119 points per game. It’s reasonable to expect that the Bucks will score at least 115 points in this game.
With a remarkable record of 40-10 in the previous season when the Bucks scored 115 points or more, they have a strong chance of securing a victory in the upcoming game.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers will be without George or Embiid in the upcoming game. However, last year’s Most Improved Player winner, Maxey, has shown great potential and had a breakout season last year. He will be looking to continue his impressive performance in this game.
In the absence of Embiid last season, Maxey averaged 26.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
When Maxey scored at least 25 points or more, the Sixers had a record of 25-15. If he delivers one of his best performances, the 76ers have a good chance of winning.
made for the moment. #MadeForThis pic.twitter.com/dF6VgRyG0Q
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 23, 2024
The Bucks allowed an average of 116.4 points per game last season, and with most of the same players this year, this trend may continue. The Bucks prefer to play at a fast pace and take early shots, which often results in conceding points.
It will be important for the Sixers to match this pace in the upcoming game. Last season, when Philadelphia scored at least 115 points, they won 31 out of 47 games.
If the Sixers can reach this mark in the game, they will have a strong chance of starting the season with a win despite missing key players.
Bucks-Sixers Best Bet
This game could have been amazing if the Sixers had their top players ready to play.
Unfortunately, that’s not the situation. Meanwhile, the Bucks have both their star players active along with some of their key role players.
The spread in this game is Bucks 3.5 points, and that feels like a small spread considering how injured the Sixers are. The Bucks -3.5 points is the best bet in this one.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
