The Milwaukee Bucks (0-2) and Philadelphia 76ers (2-0) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa. The game will broadcast live on NBA TV.
The 76ers are 12.5-point favorites over the Bucks on the spread, with the over/under set at 234.5 total points. The 76ers are -650 moneyline favorites to win outright, while the Bucks are listed as +480 underdogs to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Bucks vs. 76ers predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, October 24
Bucks vs 76ers Prediction
- Bucks vs 76ers pick: Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over 17.5 Points & Assists (-114, FanDuel)
My Bucks vs 76ers best bet is on Jaime Jaquez to go over his points & assists total, with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
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Bucks vs 76ers Odds
- Bucks vs 76ers spread: Bucks +12.5 (-110), 76ers -12.5 (-110)
- Bucks vs 76ers over/under: 234.5 (-112o / -108u)
- Bucks vs 76ers moneyline: Bucks +480, 76ers -650
Bucks vs 76ers NBA Preview
Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview
After entering the season with the third-lowest win total (25.5), the Milwaukee Bucks are already off to a 0-2 start. Life without Giannis Antetokounmpo is proving difficult after the two-time MVP was traded to Miami. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 27.6 points despite playing only 36 games due to knee and hamstring injuries.
The Bucks also surprisingly waived Kevin Porter Jr., who led the team in assists (7.4) and ranked second in scoring with 17.4 per game.
Bobby Portis (13.7 PPG) was another key departure, as he was part of the Antetokounmpo trade.
Despite landing Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis in the trade, along with the 13th overall pick, which they used to select Nate Ament, the Bucks look like they're already planning for the future rather than challenging for a playoff spot.
That Milwaukee's first two losses came against the Bulls and Wizards, two teams ranked in the bottom third in win totals, could be a worrying sign, as they're set to face a 76ers outfit with clear aspirations to be a title contender.
Philadelphia 76ers Betting Preview
The 76ers are off to a flying start, with wins over the Cavaliers, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals, and the reigning champion New York Knicks. Philadelphia received some of the highest offseason grades after trading for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James as a free agent.
However, the 76ers also made clever additions in Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who averaged 14.3 and 8.4 points last season, respectively.
Keep in mind that the 76ers still have Tyrese Maxey (28.3 PPG) running the show with Joel Embiid (26.9 PPG) patrolling the paint.
The 76ers' challenge will be keeping their players healthy, especially given James' advanced age and Embiid's injury history. If successful, I would have Philadelphia as the team to come out of the Eastern Conference.
This Philadelphia roster looks much more balanced, and we haven't even gotten to VJ Edgecombe, who will be in his second year after averaging 16 points as a rookie.
Thus, if you're a Philadelphia fan, you should have plenty of optimism for how this season can unfold.
Bucks vs 76ers Pick, Betting Analysis
While the 76ers are heavy favorites, laying 12.5 points, my model is fairly in line with the market, with Philadelphia at -12.38. Unfortunately, that margin isn't enough to warrant an edge in either direction.
As for the total, up to 234.5 after opening at 230.5, I see little value in chasing the steam, even with both teams ranking in the top five in pace this season.
A better option would be to target the player props market, where Jaquez Jr. has a points+assists total of 17.5.
One reason the Bucks waived Porter Jr. is that they felt they had more than enough ball handlers in Herro, Kasparas Jakučionis, Brayden Burries and Ryan Rollins.
However, Burries and Jakučionis don't even have two full seasons in the league, and they're also in direct competition with Rollins for minutes, considering all three are around 6'4" in height and play the guard position.
Jaquez Jr. is a bit of a unicorn because despite being slightly taller (6'6"), he plays the forward position and is an excellent ball-handler who can facilitate.
The UCLA product averaged 4.7 assists last season, and he's chipping in 3.5 this season.
Moreover, Jaquez Jr. leads the team in minutes per game at 31.5, underscoring his importance to the team.
With Jaquez Jr. and Herro as the only two players currently averaging 20 or more points per game, I expect that trend to continue as Milwaukee builds for the future.
Jaquez Jr. cleared this line in 62% of his games last year, including in his last three head-to-head meetings with Miami, despite starting only one game and being the team's fourth-leading scorer.
It won't be too long before the sportsbooks catch on and adjust this points+assists prop even higher.
Pick: Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over 17.5 Points+Assists (-114, FanDuel)
