1/7 Utah at Milwaukee
6:00 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass
Opponent record: 27-11
Season series: Tied 0-0
With one of the NBA’s leading MVP candidates in Giannis Antetokounmpo in their ranks, the Milwaukee Bucks have been an absolute powerhouse so far this season. Despite a recent loss on Saturday to the equally daunting Toronto Raptors, they’ve been on an absolute tear of late. The Bucks have won eight of their last 10 contests to ascend to the best record in the NBA.
The Greek Freak isn’t the only one who’s been thriving, though, as the oft underrated Khris Middleton continues to make significant contributions as does former Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, who’s shooting an electrifying 42.8 percent from the perimeter and an astounding 98.5 percent from the free throw line. Brook Lopez has been solid as well, as new head coach Mike Budenholzer’s squad continues to set the standard in the Eastern Conference.
His excellent work with the new squad has the Bucks at first in the league in both points and rebounds per game as well as second in offensive rating and third in defensive rating. That’s an incredibly well-rounded team whose exceptional play is absolutely backed up by incredible numbers.
There are a few reassuring things the Jazz have going for them, though, heading into this matchup. First of all, while Antetokounmpo is no doubt a prolific player that can be unstoppable for stretches, he does enjoy earning the majority of his points in the paint. However, doing so will be a much more difficult task for him with Rudy Gobert lingering there to stop him. Teams who have effectively been able to slow Giannis’ rim attack have been the most effective against him, and I like Utah’s odds of doing just that.
Not only that, but the Jazz have actually fared extremely well against the Bucks in recent seasons. Utah has won seven of their last eight against them. And if we want to go even further back, since the 2005-06 season, the Jazz are 20-5 against the Bucks.
The Bucks certainly look about the best they ever have during that stretch this season so that could change things, and it should be noted that the last time these two teams faced off in December of 2017, it resulted in a loss for the Jazz. The other downside to this contest is that it is the final bout of a long four-game road trip meaning that tired legs could certainly factor in for a road-weary Jazz team.
I honestly think the Jazz stand a better chance in this contest than many are giving them credit for, depending on which version of this fickle team shows up, of course. However, even so, considering that this bout is at the end of a road trip and that the Jazz have been as hot and cold as they have, I think that the Bucks will ultimately come out on top.
Not only that, but Jazz fans will recall all too well that the Atlanta Hawks were essentially the Jazz’s Achilles Heel last year despite the fact that they were one of the league’s worst teams. That Hawks team just so happened to be coached by none other than current Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer. If he has former colleague Quin Snyder’s tactics figured out enough to defeat him with a lowly Hawks roster, I don’t see him having much trouble at all with the formidable Bucks. This will very likely be a tough one for Utah.
My Prediction: Bucks Win
Final Score: Milwaukee 114, Utah 106