MILWAUKEE BUCKS VS OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
1.59
TOTAL POINTS (INCL OVERTIME) - UNDER 236.5
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the talking point of the NBA today. It’s not any positive talk, though. OKC took care of the Pistons yesterday, but it’s all about the officiating and the excessive foul baiting from the MVP front-runner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. OKC faces Milwaukee tonight, and both teams are on a back-to-back.
The Thunder got the better of the up-and-coming Pistons in Detroit last night. The game finished 113-107. There were solid controversies during and after the game. During the game, Gilgeous-Alexander tripped on a teammate's foot, and the referees decided to check if it was a hostile act. It was, according to the officials. Cade Cunningham got ejected, and the crowd at Little Caesars Arena was understandably upset at the situation on the court.
This is a part of a bigger picture where a lot of NBA teams and coaches are complaining more and more about the whistle that Gilgeous-Alexander gets. Last week, it was Chris Finch, coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. This week, it is another coach. The Detroit Pistons head coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, was not happy at all with the officiating at his press conference after the game. He will be heavily fined by the NBA for his post-game comments. Bickerstaff was questioning the integrity of the league and the referees. He just shared some common thoughts that most NBA fans carry around. It was a courageous act on Bickerstaff’s behalf.
Gilgeous-Alexander had 48 points and made 17 of his 26 shots. He had six dimes, three steals, and one block. The Canadian Shai played very well, but it would be lovely to see him cut down the foul baiting. Unfortunately, that will not happen as long as it is rewarded by the refs. Isaiah Hartenstein had a nice game with ten rebounds and five assists. The foul baiting is a bigger issue that the NBA needs to start dealing with as soon as possible. In the longer run, it is about the trustworthiness of the league going forward. The Thunder tops the West with a record of 55 wins and 12 losses. Their road record is 26-7.
Just like the Thunder, the Bucks are on a back-to-back, but without the traveling part of it all. They took care of their rivals from Indiana, the Pacers, 126-119 at home. A big win for Milwaukee since they lost to the Pacers on the road a couple of days ago after a dramatic end to that game (118-119). Giannis had 34 points on a very effective shooting night yesterday. Antetokounmpo made 14 out of his 19 shot attempts. Damian Lillard added 25 points, and both of them had a good rebounding night with ten rebounds each. Dame had eight dimes, and Giannis seven. Kevin Porter Jr. was impactful off the bench with his 16 scored points. Jericho Sims (used to be with the New York Knicks) is the backup center, and he is getting better and better with the Bucks.
The Bucks are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 38 wins and 28 losses. The Bucks have a home record at the Fiserv Forum of 23 wins and eleven lost games. Milwaukee has won six out of their last ten games in the NBA. Bobby Portis Jr. is serving a suspension and is out for the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
