Sunday is a small, three-game matinee slate with America's eyes on the football world Sunday evening. Even though there are only three games, they provide plenty of great opportunities with sides and totals. Here are my favorite NBA picks and predictions for the afternoon game 76ers vs. Bucks.
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Sunday's Best NBA Picks: 76ers vs. Bucks
(Odds Courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook)
Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks
The 76ers and Bucks meet up on Sunday in a nationally televised game leading into the final week of games before the All-Star break. Both of these teams are looking to rinse out the taste of defeat on Friday night and both lost outright as road favorites. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been declared out for this game and thus the line has moved in Philadelphia's favor since it's open on Saturday afternoon.
Philadelphia has been a below-average defensive team this season. Star big man Joel Embiid has missed 36 games this season due to injury and he's listed as a game-time decision for this one. When Embiid is on the floor, the 76ers are 8-7 straight up (SU) - a far bit better than the 12-24 when he is out of the lineup. On Friday, Embiid and the rest of the lineup started slow and stumbled to a 29-point halftime deficit. They were able to turn the defense on in the second half and allowed just 47 second-half points in a 13-point loss.
For Milwaukee, the loss of Antetokounmpo is big. His 31.8 points per game aren't something the Bucks can easily replace. Defensively, he's even more difficult to replace. His +1.2 estimated plus-minus on the defensive end is way ahead of Bobby Portis (+0.1), Taurean Prince (-0.9) and Kyle Kuzma (-0.6), who are likely to fill in for him. In the last eight games with Embiid in the lineup, the 76ers have scored 115.8 points per game. They could easily do that against a short-handed Milwaukee team that also can't keep up on offense.
Pick: 76ers +3 (-112)
