Game Time: 8:30 PM ET, Saturday, March 11th, 2022 

Venue:  Golden 1 Center, San Francisco, California

Where to Watch: ABC

DraftKings:  Spread:  

Fanduel:  Spread:  

BetMGM:  Spread: 

Bucks: 42-25, 2nd place Eastern Conference

Warriors: 45-22, 3rd place Western Conference

Things are heating up in primetime.  On Saturday ABC is giving us a non-conference NBA battle between the 2nd place team in the East and the 3rd place team in the West.  In many people’s eyes this is a logical preview of the NBA Finals.  Last year's Champ Milwaukee versus this decade’s Champ Golden State.  Fueling this speculation is the superb play of PF Giannis Antetokounmpo who has a plethora of help around him.  And the Golden State Warriors will get PF Draymond Green back in time for the end of the season and playoffs… Draymond is the Magic that makes the Warriors win.  I can’t explain it other than the defense and rebounding will improve… but also his level head and his consistent veteran voice lifts the games of what is already a great roster.  Plenty of people say the Finals will be Phoenix vs Philly…. It all remains to be seen.  With the sheer amount of injury and new MVP storylines in the league this year?…. The Finals could very well be the Chicago Bulls versus the Memphis Grizzlies?.  We will see, but first let’s find out what the numbers say about growing our bankroll in a nationally televised NBA game of great vs great.

The Milwaukee Bucks have won 6 games in a row and 7 of their last ten games.  They went 5-5 ATS during that stretch.  The Bucks feel like desperation when you watch them play.  The whole team relies on Giannis to have big game after big game after big game…. Giannis is capable, but that isn’t winning basketball in the long run.  Especially not with the sheer amount of teams that will throw 2-3 all-stars into a starting 5.  Milwaukee lost to the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Portland Trail Blazers (one of these things do not fit) during the down stretch at the beginning of this ten game run.  SF Khris Middleton and PG Jrue Holiday are good players… added to Giannis they are often touted as a BIG THREE.. They aren’t.  Giannis needs to be able to count on those other guys to get defensive stops instead of just the occasional 20 point game.  At 16th on defense the Bucks are proving that not all BIG THREES are made of all-NBA players.  A middle of the pack defense needs the offense to outscore everyone… and that will be a tough task against Golden State… who has better shooters at every position on the court.

The Golden State Warriors have won 2 games in a row.  They have only 3 wins over their last ten games.  They only went 4-6 ATS.  During the stretch the Memphis Grizzlies jumped them in the standings.  The problem is well documented.  PF Draymond Green is out with injury and the team is playing completely unbalanced.  Draymond’s defensive efficiency and ability to lead the team in both rebounds and assists is actually what opens the floor for Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to make it rain threes.  The whole of the team is the portrait of loaded.  This team got 20 ppg out of Andrew Wiggins this season… this team has SF Jonathan Kuminga, and SG Jordan Poole coming off the bench.  This team has Otto Porter Jr going in and out of the lineup as if he was a simple role player.  The biggest problem with the Warriors missing Draymond is that Kevon Looney is their only real big man.  Kevon is fine and certainly hustles but talent wise he is pedestrian.  The team has been missing C James Wiseman all season… so long that he is no longer even listed on the injury report on high end statistics sites… it is simply assumed he won’t be in.  The rumor mill has said openly that Wiseman will return.  He is a second year player and he will be rusty… but he adds much needed depth at the thinnest position.  When that happens we will be watching a different team… the question is: When?

Al McMordie CASHED his NBA Game of the Month on Golden State and is 69-40 his last 109. The winning continues today, as Big Al's unloading on another MASSIVE play. It's Big Al's NBA Division Game of the Year! Pick it up right now, and get the $$$$! Get Big Al’s picks!   You can discover the best  picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB, college football… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

Milwaukee is 42-25 on the season, but 31-36 ATS.  They have logged 34 Overs and 33 Unders.  They are 18-13 in road games.

Golden State is 45-22 on the season, but 33-30-4 ATS.  They have notched 29 Overs, 36 Unders, and 2 Push.  They are a dominant 27-7 in home games.

Milwaukee is 2nd in scoring with 114.6 ppg, 2nd in rebounds with 46.9 per game, and 15th in AST/TO ratio with 1.7.  On defense they rank 16th while allowing 110.5 ppg from opponents.

Golden State is 11th in scoring with 111.2 ppg, 9th in rebounds with 45.3 per game, and 11th in AST/TO ratio with 1.8.  On defense they rank 5th while holding opponents to 104.9 ppg.

Our prediction for Saturday, March 12th is…. Bucks 118 - Warriors 114

The Bucks will get this win.  The Warriors do have good news though as Draymoond has pegged his return for the next game… and James Wiseman has joined the Warriors G-League team to get some work in two G-league games before he is re-evaluated for a return to NBA action. When Wiseman does return he will most assuredly be on a minutes restriction. With a month left in the season… the Warriors will be looking ahead instead of at the Bucks.

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(will update tonight as numbers settle)

Bucks: PG George Hill (neck) Out ** SG Pat Connaughton (finger) Out ** C Brook Lopez (back) Out for season

Warriors: PF Draymond Green (calf) Out ** C James Wiseman (knee) G-league ** SG Andre Igoudala Out 

Bucks: SF Khris Middleton, PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, C Bobby Portis, SG Grayson Allen, PG Jrue Holiday

Warriors: PF Moses Moody, SF Adrew Wiggins, C Kevon Looney, PG Steph Curry, SG Klay Thompson

Bucks

Points: Giannis Antetokounmpo 29.7

Assists: Jrue Holiday 6.7

Rebounds: Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.5

Steals: Jrue Holiday 1.5

Blocks: Brook Lopez 3.0

Bucks: Mike Budenholzer

Warriors Steve Kerr