Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 11/18/2022

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Where to watch: ESPN

DraftKings: 76ers -2

FanDuel: 76ers -2

BetMGM: 76ers -1.5

Caesars: 76ers -2

Bucks: 11-3

76ers: 7-7

Bucks: won 113-98 vs. Cavs on Wednesday

76ers: won 105-98 vs. Jazz on Sunday

What on Earth will Joel Embiid do for an encore? God help the Milwaukee Bucks if that happens again, but the Philadelphia 76ers’ superstar showed why he was that last time out. And if the Sixers are to turn things around and get back while James Harden remains out, they’ll need to find a way to win against the Eastern Conference’s top team when the two meet in Philly on Friday.

 

The Sixers haven’t played Sunday. The last time we saw them, Embiid literally dragged them across the finish line against the Utah Jazz by finishing with 59 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and seven blocks in a 105-98 win. Philly got four days off, likely to extinguish the flames from Embiid’s head from that game.

 

"Starting with me just being more impactful than I was the first three or four games," Embiid said of the defense. "Getting back to myself, protecting the rim, first of all, and making sure no one actually drives in there. As a team, I think the schemes, we kinda settled on what we're trying to do."

 

As the Sixers continue to navigate the waters without James Harden, they know someone else is going to have to pick up the pace with Embiid doing Embiid things. As amazing as it would be for him to average that stat line on a nightly basis, we know it’s not sustainable 14 games into their season.

 

That’s why you look at the Bucks, see what Giannis Antetokounmpo has done and realize the depth he has around him is helping the Bucks get off to an 11-3 start. Oh, and that’s without Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton and Joe Ingles due to injury.

 

The Bucks are coming off a 113-98 win at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday that saw Giannis not need to do it all. He did have 16 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, but shot 6 of 18 from the floor. This game was all Brook Lopez by scoring a game-high 29 points and going 7 of 9 from 3-point range. The Bucks defense also held Cleveland to 42% shooting.

 

"I've put the work in so the confidence is definitely there with the shot," Lopez said after coming within one made 3-pointer of tying his career high. "Obviously Giannis is so good, he's going to draw so much attention, so the rest of us just have to be ready when we're open.

 

"We're going to be open a lot because they load up so much -- every team loads him so much -- you just gotta be ready to be open, catch-and-shoot it. That's pretty much it. Be in that mindset, just let it fly."

 

The good news for the Bucks: It looks like Connaughton could be back sooner than later after he was listed as probable against Cleveland. If that’s the case, that’s a big shooter available for Milwaukee in this one.

 

 

Any time Embiid and Giannis go at it, you know you’re in for a treat at both ends of the court. It just comes down to depth and who can make the more plays in the end. Right now, I give that edge to Milwaukee even after going 2-3 since their 9-0 start. Bucks by 5

Bucks are 153-128 ATS on the road against Atlantic Division opponents since 1996.

76ers are 26-13 ATS when playing 4 games or less in 10 days the last 3 seasons.

The under is 19-8 when the Bucks;' line is between +3 and -3 the last three seasons.

PG: George Hill

SG: Jevon Carter

SF: Jordan Nwora

PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo

C: Brook Lopez

PG: Tyrese Maxey

SG: De'Anthony Melton

SF: Tobias Harris

PF: P.J. Tucker

C: Joel Embiid

Bucks: Jrue Holiday (ankle, questionable), Grayson Allen (ankle, day-to-day), Khris Middleton (wrist, out), Pat Connaughton (calf, questionable), Wesley Matthews (hamstring, out), Joe Ingles (knee, out)

76ers: James Harden (foot, out)

Points: Giannis Antetokounmpo -- 29.9

Rebounds: Giannis Antetokounmpo -- 11.8

Assists: Jrue Holiday -- 7.9

Points: Joel Embiid -- 32.3

Rebounds: Joel Embiid -- 10.1

Assists: James Harden -- 10.0