Milwaukee Bucks at San Antonio Spurs 3/10/19: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds
Milwaukee Bucks at San Antonio Spurs Preview
The San Antonio Spurs have not lost a game at home since returning from the Rodeo Road Trip, but they’ll face their stiffest test in the AT&T Center yet when they face off against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight.
If the Spurs hope to avoid a first-round playoff matchup with the Golden State Warriors, they’ll need to move up from the eighth spot, but just as they have gone on a four-game winning streak, the Los Angeles Clippers have gone on their own four-game winning streak to keep their half-game cushion over San Antonio. The Spurs are 37-29 on the season and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Milwaukee retains a three-game advantage for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and has the best record in the NBA at 50-16. They’ve won their last two entering tonight’s game and are 8-2 in their last 10.
The Spurs and Bucks will be closing up their regular season series tonight. Last time they played, on November 24, the Bucks edged out the Spurs 135-129 as Giannis Antetokounmpo and DeMar DeRozan battled. Giannis finished with 34 points and 18 rebounds, while DeRozan had 34 points and seven assists.
TV Schedule
Date: 03/10/19
Time: 8:00pm ET
Arena: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
Channel: FSWIS, FSSW-SA
Milwaukee Bucks Starting Lineup
PG: Eric Bledsoe
SG: Malcolm Brogdon
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Brook Lopez
Bucks Analysis
The Milwaukee Bucks have bounced back from their two-game skid by winning two consecutive. They closed out their regular season series with the Charlotte Hornets last night in a 131-114 victory for their 50th win of the season. Aside from winning the regular season series against Charlotte, they’ve been dominant against their Eastern Conference counterparts this season going 34-8, and going 3-1 against the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers, and 2-1 against the Boston Celtics.
“It’s great, and we’ve got to do it again though in the playoffs,” Bucks forward Khris Middleton said. “We’re going to see any one of these teams and we have to play the same way if not harder.”
Giannis led the Bucks over the Hornets with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. Brook Lopez, who has been on a hot streak of late, had 25 points last night and Malcolm Brogdon chipped in 18. They also got some scoring help off the bench with Nikola Mirotic scoring 18 and rookie Donte DiVincenzo returning for 11 points.
While they’ve been successful against Eastern Conference opponents, the Bucks now turn their attention to the West for two of their next three road games. It’ll be a return to San Antonio for Pau Gasol, who was bought out so he could join the Bucks in time to play in the playoffs.
Former Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, now head coach in Milwaukee, didn’t play any of his starters over 30 minutes, but fatigue may be a concern on the second game of a back-to-back, particularly against a well-rested team in San Antonio, who has not played in three games.
Bucks Quick Links: Bucks Starting Lineup, Bucks Roster, Bucks Depth Chart, Bucks Injuries, Bucks News, Bucks Schedule
San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup
PG: Derrick White
SG: Bryn Forbes
SF: DeMar DeRozan
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: Jakob Poeltl
Contents
Spurs Analysis
Before the season started, not many expected that one of San Antonio’s most important players would be second-year guard Derrick White, especially after White spent m0st of last season in Austin with the Spurs’ G-League affiliate. He was expected to compete for backup point guard minutes this season, but when Dejounte Murray was lost for the year, he became the starter.
It’s no secret that the Spurs’ defense has been terrible when he’s been sidelined this season and that it’s been night and day when he is in the lineup. He’s easily become the Spurs’ best wing defender.
“The significant drop in defense we’ve had when he’s been injured says a lot,” Spurs guard Patty Mills said. “Derrick has been able to provide some presence on the defensive end.”
White has also been poised as the point guard and has shown the ability to let the offense come to him. In the Spurs’ 111-104 win over the Atlanta Hawks. White finished with 18 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and six blocked shots. He also limited Trae Young to 8-of-24 from the field and 1-of-7 from deep.
LaMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs in scoring with 32 points, DeMar DeRozan had 14 and Rudy Gay, Davis Bertans and Patty Mills had 12 points apiece.
Spurs Quick Links: Spurs Starting Lineup, Spurs Roster, Spurs Depth Chart, Spurs Injuries, Spurs News, Spurs Schedule
Milwaukee Bucks at San Antonio Spurs Betting Odds
Milwaukee is a three-point favorite to win tonight’s game on the road. The Bucks are 23-11 on the road this season, while the Spurs are 25-7 at home.
The over/under is 226.5 points and the Bucks are -155 on the moneyline.
Odds & Line Movement Links: Milwaukee Bucks at San Antonio Spurs, Vegas Odds (All NBA Games Today)
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