The NBA Cup Finals will take center stage in the basketball world, with the second trophy being awarded on Tuesday night, broadcast live from Las Vegas.
Arguably the best team in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder have dominated the competition so far this year and will be facing the rapidly rising Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee looked like a shell of its once dominant team early on, but has since bounced back under coach Doc Rivers.
According to sportsbook Bet365, the Thunder are 5-point favorites and the Bucks' money line is +165.
Bucks vs. Thunder odds
| team | spread | money line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| bucks | +5 (-111) | +165 | 216 or more (-110) |
| thunder | -5 (-109) | -200 | (less than 216-110) |
Bucks vs. Thunder predictions
Oklahoma City is the best defensive team in the NBA according to defensive ratings, but the Bucks can't come close to Damian Lillard's defensive ability as he consistently allows blow-bys on that end of the floor.
However, Milwaukee has a strong offensive system and has a top-10 offense according to Offensive Net Rating.
And we know the Bucks have the potential to be a team worthy of an NBA championship thanks to the do-it-all superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
However, this matchup will be very tricky for Milwaukee as Oklahoma City has so many defenses that can attack the “Greek Freak”.
When Antetokounmpo touches the ball, he'll be facing a combination of Luguentz Dort, Chet Holmgren, and Jaylen Williams.
In a high-pressure game like this, it's hard to expect him to get enough foul calls to completely take over this game.
I expect the Thunder to get through this game with a win and cover the spread.
As for props, expect aging star Khris Middleton to get a lot of runway in this piece, assuming he's still around.
Do you want to bet on the NBA?
Middleton is averaging over 7.5 rebounds + assists and is +105 on ESPN BET, a number he has cleared in all but one game this season.
Be sure to check the game report before the game. However, if he does not play, bets will be void.
Pick: Thunder -5 (-109, Bet 365) | Khris Middleton, 7.5 rebounds + assists or more (+105, ESPN Bet)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Erich Richter is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but has a black belt in mixed martial arts gambling. During football season, he proved to be a huge moneymaker for the Post in the player prop market the past two seasons. Always betting on the long shot, the return on investment from 2022 onwards is 30.15%.
