Former NBA head coach Pat Riley used to say a playoff series doesn’t begin until a road team wins a game. Detroit Piston fans will like this logic because it lets them ignore the fact their team is down 0-2 and has been outscored by 56 points over the first two games of their first round series.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks set out to put the Pistons on the ropes when the two teams meet on Saturday night. Detroit is looking to snap a 12-game postseason losing streak that dates back to 2008.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

There is a good chance the longest losing streak in NBA playoff history will belong to the Pistons when the first round finishes up. Detroit is an 8.5-point underdog in Game 3 and similar odds can be expected for Game 4.

The Knicks own the longest playoff losing streak (13 games) in NBA history. Two more consecutive losses for Detroit will mean there will be a new owner of that dubious record. The Bucks are -189 favourites to win the series in four games. Those odds imply a 65 percent probability that the Pistons will be swept out of the playoffs.

Milwaukee is 6-0 straight up and 5-0-1 against the spread in its last six games against Detroit. The Pistons are 1-7 ATS in their last eight contests but 11-3 against the number in their last 14 home dates. Conversely, the Bucks are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 away games.

More than 95 percent of bettors expect the Bucks to cover as 8.5-point chalk in Game 3 while 75 percent are backing the over to cash on the 216.5-point total.

Milwaukee Bucks

This time last year, Eric Bledsoe was getting thoroughly outplayed by Celtics backup point guard Terry Rozier. What a difference a year makes. Bledsoe led the Bucks in scoring in Game 2 of their series against the Pistons thanks to his 27-point performance. He connected on 11 of his 19 attempts from the field, and added six assists and four rebounds to round out his game.

Detroit Pistons

Blake Griffin continues to sit out because of his sore left knee and head coach Dwane Casey is struggling to find ways to replace his All-Star forward’s offensive game. Second-year shooting guard Luke Kennard has been the most consistent threat in the playoffs this season for Detroit. He’s shooting 8-for-11 from 3-point land in his last two games.

BUCKS

Away

122

PISTONS

Home

106

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Predictions

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