Division rivals Milwaukee and Chicago are set to mix it up for the first time this season when they collide at the United Center tonight. This evening’s Central clash is scheduled for an 8:00pm ET start and features the hosting Bulls as a -11.5 NBA Odds favorite. The game total is set at 184.5 points and Chicago can be had on the moneyline for a steep -850 price.
Milwaukee remains three games under .500 at 7-10 overall, but the Bucks have played solid basketball over the last week, posting a 3-1 record with wins at New York, Miami, and Houston. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, its latest victory, a 105-99 win over the Rockets, also saw center Andrew Bogut fracture his left ankle.
The loss of Bogut is a huge one, both figuratively and literally, for the Bucks as his four game absence in early January indicated. Bogut missed four consecutive road games at the beginning of the month and Milwaukee went 0-4 during that stretch, losing by an average of 9.3 points per game.
The task of beating the Bulls is a tall one, particularly at the United Center and without Bogut. Chicago has won four in a row against its division rival and it is coming off its first home loss of the season.
The Bulls fell to the surging Pacers 90-95 at the United Center on Wednesday, despite a 24 point night from Derrick Rose and double-double efforts on the part of Joakim Noah and Ronnie Brewer. Chicago hit just 36 of its 90 field goal attempts, though, and it missed on 10 of its 13 three-pointers.
Nevertheless, a bounce-back performance figures to come this evening as the Bulls have yet to drop back-to-back games this season. Chicago is 10-0 in its last 10 games as a home favorite with a spread between 11 and 13.5 and it average margin of victory following a loss this season is an eye popping 18.3 points.
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Milwaukee Bucks vs Chicago Bulls 2012 NBA Odds: Provided by TopBet.com
Milwaukee Bucks +11.5 (-110), Over 184.5 (-110), +600 (Moneyline)
Chicago Bulls -11.5 (-110), Under 184.5 (-110), -850 (Moneyline)
