The Milwaukee Bucks made sure they’re not going to be swept whatever happens in the series against the Brooklyn Nets. Will the Bucks win again and even up the series? Or will the Nets win and move a victory away from gaining entry into the Eastern Conference semis? Check out our preview of this game below.
The Nets bid their dreams of sweeping Milwaukee in the second round goodbye, as they lost in Game 3, 86-83. Nevertheless, Kevin Durant had 30 points with 11 rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Kyrie Irving provided22 points. What’s missing for the Nets was the support from the secondary players, as Blake Griffin only had five points in 30 minutes, while Joe Harris was only 1 of 11 from the field to finish with a paltry output of three points. Perhaps it was time for the Bucks to cool off after a blistering start to the series. Getting more acclimated longer in Milwaukee should help the Nets as well going into Game 4. The Nets are trailing Milwaukee in the series in terms of rebounding average but outrebounded the Bucks in Game 3, 50-49.
The Nets are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games in the second round. They are also 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games as the favorite.
Khris Middleton finally showed up and proved that he still exists. He scored 35 points on 12-of-25 shooting from the field to give Giannis Antetokounmpo the kind of scoring support he needed from his running mate in Game 3. Antetokoumpo still ended up with 33 points and 14 rebounds, though he shot just 1 of 8 from behind the arc. Giannis must think about his long shots. It’s better for him to attack the basket and challenge the Nets’ rim protection than hoisting lower-percentage shots that he seems to be simply not capable of making as of the moment. With a newfound momentum, the Bucks will be charging into Game 4 full of confidence.
The Bucks are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games against a team with a winning straight-up record. They are also are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight home games against a team with a winning road record.
