The Pistons have Blake Griffin back but they still don’t have any answers for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. Detroit is on the brink of being swept out of the playoffs in the first round for a third consecutive time.
Oddsmakers don’t like the Pistons’ chances of avoiding the broom. The Bucks are 12.5-point road favourites for Game 4 and are 6-0-1 against the spread in their last seven games against their Central division rivals.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Chalk is still walking in the NBA postseason. Heading into Sunday’s action on the hardwood, favourites are 17-9 against the number in this year’s playoffs. The Bucks have played their part in the trend.
The East’s No. 1 seed is a perfect 3-0 straight up and ATS in its first round series against the Pistons. The team has won by 16 or more points in each of the three contests. First quarter bettors should be paying close attention to this game.
The Bucks have outscored the Pistons by 20, 11 and 8 points in the first periods. Sports Interaction lists Milwaukee as -227 in the race to 20 points prop. Even with a low return, that’s a safe bet for NBA fans.
The Pistons can’t keep the Bucks off the scoreboard. Milwaukee has scored 115 or more points in each of its last five games against Detroit. The Over is 4-1 during the same stretch of games.
The Bucks remain one of the top choices on SIA NBA futures board. The book lists Milwaukee at +550 to win the championship. That’s tied with the Houston Rockets for second lowest odds to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Golden State Warriors are still the clear favourites at -220.
Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo is likely going to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award for his work this season, but the Bucks are proving they’re not a one-man show. Six other Milwaukee players reach double figures in Game 3 including Nikola Mirotic.
The sweet-shooting stretch four connected on three of his five attempts from deep and finished the game with 12 points in just 14 minutes of action. Mirotic missed significant time due to injury since the Bucks traded for him at midseason. A healthy Mirotic could be a game-changer in later round matchups.
Detroit Pistons
Blake Griffin returned to the Pistons’ lineup after sitting out the first two games of the series with a sore left knee. The All-Star forward scored 27 points and collected seven rebounds and six assists in the game. The problem for Detroit backers is that there aren’t any other primary scoring threats on the team.
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 21 Apr 1:09pm | MIL | -12 -110 | O +218.5 -110 |
| Closing 22 Apr 11:59pm | MIL | -13.5 -110 | O +220 -110 |
Injuries
D.J. Wilson (PF)
D.J. Wilson (PF)
Sterling Brown (SG)
Pat Connaughton (SG)
Brook Lopez (C)
Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
Tony Snell (SG)
George Hill (PG)
Nikola Mirotic (PF)
Luke Kennard (SG)
Svi Mykhailiuk (SG)
Langston Galloway (SG)
Luke Kennard (SG)
Wayne Ellington (SG)
Luke Kennard (SG)
Thon Maker (PF)
Reggie Jackson (PG)
Bruce Brown (PG)
Reggie Jackson (PG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D.J. Wilson (PF) | Prob Tues | Ankle - 19 / 05 / 19 | 1-3 | 3-1 | + - |
|
Wilson is battling left ankle soreness but is likely to suit up for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Raptors. |
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| D.J. Wilson (PF) | Prob Fri | Ankle - 07 / 05 / 19 | 4-3 | 3-4 | + - |
|
Wilson has a left ankle sprain but is expected to suit up for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Raptors. |
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| Sterling Brown (SG) | Prob Tues | Back - 28 / 04 / 19 | 7-4 | 6-5 | + - |
|
Brown is battling back spasms but is likely to be available against the Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round. |
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| Pat Connaughton (SG) | Prob Wed | Ankle - 09 / 04 / 19 | 10-6 | 9-7 | + - |
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Connaughton has a left ankle sprain but is likely to play Wednesday against the Thunder. |
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| Brook Lopez (C) | Out Wed | Rest - 09 / 04 / 19 | 10-6 | 9-7 | + - |
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Lopez will not be in Wednesday's lineup as he will be given the night off to rest. |
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| Ersan Ilyasova (PF) | Prob Sat | Nose - 05 / 04 / 19 | 11-7 | 11-7 | + - |
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Ilyasova is dealing with a nasal fracture but is expected to take the court against the Nets on Saturday. |
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| Ersan Ilyasova (PF) | Prob Thurs | Back - 01 / 04 / 19 | 12-8 | 13-7 | + - |
|
Ilyasova sat out the previous game due to a sore back but it is likely he will suit up against the 76ers on Thursday. |
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| Tony Snell (SG) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 24 / 03 / 19 | 15-8 | 15-9 | + - |
|
Snell is sidelined with a left ankle sprain and it is unknown if he will return for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Pistons. |
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| George Hill (PG) | Prob Fri | Groin - 20 / 03 / 19 | 16-9 | 15-11 | + - |
|
Hill missed the previous game due to soreness in his left groin but is expected to face the Heat on Friday. |
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| Nikola Mirotic (PF) | Prob Sun | Thumb - 20 / 03 / 19 | 16-9 | 15-11 | + - |
|
Mirotic is sidelined due to a fracture in his left thumb but it is likely he will return to action against the Pistons in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Kennard (SG) | Prob Fri | Foot - 04 / 04 / 19 | 1-7 | 3-5 | + - |
|
Kennard is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Friday despite soreness in his right foot. |
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| Svi Mykhailiuk (SG) | Out indefinitely | Finger - 03 / 04 / 19 | 1-8 | 4-5 | + - |
|
Mykhailiuk will miss an undetermined length of time due to a fractured left index finger. |
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| Langston Galloway (SG) | Ques Mon | Illness - 01 / 04 / 19 | 2-8 | 4-6 | + - |
|
Galloway is under the weather and his status Monday against the Pacers is uncertain. |
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| Luke Kennard (SG) | Prob Wed | Foot - 01 / 04 / 19 | 2-8 | 4-6 | + - |
|
Kennard sat out the last game due to soreness in his right foot but is expected to play against the Pacers on Wednesday. |
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| Wayne Ellington (SG) | Prob Tues | Illness - 26 / 03 / 19 | 5-8 | 6-7 | + - |
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Ellington is ailing from an illness but is expected to play Tuesday against the Nuggets. |
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| Luke Kennard (SG) | Prob Sun | Knee - 24 / 03 / 19 | 6-8 | 7-8 | + - |
|
Kennard is expected to play against the Warriors on Sunday despite left knee soreness. |
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| Thon Maker (PF) | Prob Sun | Shoulder - 24 / 03 / 19 | 6-8 | 7-8 | + - |
|
Maker is dealing with right shoulder soreness but is likely to be available Sunday against the Warriors. |
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| Reggie Jackson (PG) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 16 / 03 / 19 | 8-9 | 9-9 | + - |
|
Jackson is dealing with a sore ankle but will likely play Sunday against the Raptors. |
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| Bruce Brown (PG) | Prob Fri | Ankle - 14 / 03 / 19 | 8-10 | 9-10 | + - |
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Brown is likely to be in Friday's lineup versus the Lakers despite right ankle discomfort. |
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| Reggie Jackson (PG) | Prob Fri | Ankle - 13 / 03 / 19 | 8-11 | 9-11 | + - |
|
Jackson left the previous game due to right ankle discomfort but is expected to play against the Lakers on Friday. |
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 21 Apr 1:09pm MIL -12 -110 O +218.5 -110 Closing 22 Apr 11:59pm MIL -13.5 -110 O +220 -110 -
Injuries
D.J. Wilson (PF)
Prob Tues Ankle - 19 / 05 / 19D.J. Wilson (PF)
Prob Fri Ankle - 07 / 05 / 19Sterling Brown (SG)
Prob Tues Back - 28 / 04 / 19Pat Connaughton (SG)
Prob Wed Ankle - 09 / 04 / 19Brook Lopez (C)
Out Wed Rest - 09 / 04 / 19Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
Prob Sat Nose - 05 / 04 / 19Ersan Ilyasova (PF)
Prob Thurs Back - 01 / 04 / 19Tony Snell (SG)
Ques Sat Ankle - 24 / 03 / 19George Hill (PG)
Prob Fri Groin - 20 / 03 / 19Nikola Mirotic (PF)
Prob Sun Thumb - 20 / 03 / 19Luke Kennard (SG)
Prob Fri Foot - 04 / 04 / 19Svi Mykhailiuk (SG)
Out indefinitely Finger - 03 / 04 / 19Langston Galloway (SG)
Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 04 / 19Luke Kennard (SG)
Prob Wed Foot - 01 / 04 / 19Wayne Ellington (SG)
Prob Tues Illness - 26 / 03 / 19Luke Kennard (SG)
Prob Sun Knee - 24 / 03 / 19Thon Maker (PF)
Prob Sun Shoulder - 24 / 03 / 19Reggie Jackson (PG)
Prob Sun Ankle - 16 / 03 / 19Bruce Brown (PG)
Prob Fri Ankle - 14 / 03 / 19Reggie Jackson (PG)
Prob Fri Ankle - 13 / 03 / 19Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes D.J. Wilson (PF) Prob Tues Ankle - 19 / 05 / 19 1-3 3-1 + - Wilson is battling left ankle soreness but is likely to suit up for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Raptors.
D.J. Wilson (PF) Prob Fri Ankle - 07 / 05 / 19 4-3 3-4 + - Wilson has a left ankle sprain but is expected to suit up for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Raptors.
Sterling Brown (SG) Prob Tues Back - 28 / 04 / 19 7-4 6-5 + - Brown is battling back spasms but is likely to be available against the Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Pat Connaughton (SG) Prob Wed Ankle - 09 / 04 / 19 10-6 9-7 + - Connaughton has a left ankle sprain but is likely to play Wednesday against the Thunder.
Brook Lopez (C) Out Wed Rest - 09 / 04 / 19 10-6 9-7 + - Lopez will not be in Wednesday's lineup as he will be given the night off to rest.
Ersan Ilyasova (PF) Prob Sat Nose - 05 / 04 / 19 11-7 11-7 + - Ilyasova is dealing with a nasal fracture but is expected to take the court against the Nets on Saturday.
Ersan Ilyasova (PF) Prob Thurs Back - 01 / 04 / 19 12-8 13-7 + - Ilyasova sat out the previous game due to a sore back but it is likely he will suit up against the 76ers on Thursday.
Tony Snell (SG) Ques Sat Ankle - 24 / 03 / 19 15-8 15-9 + - Snell is sidelined with a left ankle sprain and it is unknown if he will return for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Pistons.
George Hill (PG) Prob Fri Groin - 20 / 03 / 19 16-9 15-11 + - Hill missed the previous game due to soreness in his left groin but is expected to face the Heat on Friday.
Nikola Mirotic (PF) Prob Sun Thumb - 20 / 03 / 19 16-9 15-11 + - Mirotic is sidelined due to a fracture in his left thumb but it is likely he will return to action against the Pistons in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Luke Kennard (SG) Prob Fri Foot - 04 / 04 / 19 1-7 3-5 + - Kennard is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Friday despite soreness in his right foot.
Svi Mykhailiuk (SG) Out indefinitely Finger - 03 / 04 / 19 1-8 4-5 + - Mykhailiuk will miss an undetermined length of time due to a fractured left index finger.
Langston Galloway (SG) Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 04 / 19 2-8 4-6 + - Galloway is under the weather and his status Monday against the Pacers is uncertain.
Luke Kennard (SG) Prob Wed Foot - 01 / 04 / 19 2-8 4-6 + - Kennard sat out the last game due to soreness in his right foot but is expected to play against the Pacers on Wednesday.
Wayne Ellington (SG) Prob Tues Illness - 26 / 03 / 19 5-8 6-7 + - Ellington is ailing from an illness but is expected to play Tuesday against the Nuggets.
Luke Kennard (SG) Prob Sun Knee - 24 / 03 / 19 6-8 7-8 + - Kennard is expected to play against the Warriors on Sunday despite left knee soreness.
Thon Maker (PF) Prob Sun Shoulder - 24 / 03 / 19 6-8 7-8 + - Maker is dealing with right shoulder soreness but is likely to be available Sunday against the Warriors.
Reggie Jackson (PG) Prob Sun Ankle - 16 / 03 / 19 8-9 9-9 + - Jackson is dealing with a sore ankle but will likely play Sunday against the Raptors.
Bruce Brown (PG) Prob Fri Ankle - 14 / 03 / 19 8-10 9-10 + - Brown is likely to be in Friday's lineup versus the Lakers despite right ankle discomfort.
Reggie Jackson (PG) Prob Fri Ankle - 13 / 03 / 19 8-11 9-11 + - Jackson left the previous game due to right ankle discomfort but is expected to play against the Lakers on Friday.