The final day of action in the NBA before the All-Star break will tip off with this divisional rivalry game on Thursday, February 16, and here you can take a look at the best Bucks vs. Bulls betting pick and odds.

Milwaukee is searching for the 12th consecutive victory, while Chicago is desperate to avoid the sixth loss in a row when they meet at United Center. The Bucks are 7-point favorites on BookMaker Sportsbook, while the total is set at 227.5 points. These Central Division foes will face for the third time this year, the Bulls lead the series 2-0.

Bucks are unstoppable right now

The Milwaukee Bucks (40-17, 31-24-2 ATS) are currently the hottest team in the NBA and are going through their best period of the campaign after recording the 11th straight win. The Bucks returned home from a three-game road trip with three wins in the bag and then edged the Eastern Conference leaders 131-125 in overtime. Milwaukee had a chance to win it in regulation, but Khris Middleton missed a 16-foot shot. The hosts did commit six more turnovers than the Celtics (19-13), but they were better from the foul line (27-16) and in rebounds (52-44).

Jrue Holiday led the Bucks as he tied a career-high 40 points (13-21 FG, 8-12 3 PT, 6-6 FT), seven assists, five rebounds, and game-high three steals. Giannis Antetokounmpo followed him with a double-double of 36 points and game-high 13 boards along with team-high nine dishes, two blocks, and game-high eight turnovers, while Khris Middleton posted a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.

SF Jae Crowder (personal), SF Pat Connaughton (calf), and PF/C Bobby Portis (knee) are out indefinitely and will not play in Chicago on Thursday.

Bulls are going down

The Chicago Bulls (26-32, 28-28-2 ATS) are experiencing their worst period of the season; they suffered five defeats in a row and couldn’t even beat the Indiana Pacers after leading by 24 points at the start of the second quarter. The Bulls spent four of the previous five games on the road and now will play the next three games at United Center. It started very well for them in Indianapolis; the Bulls led 39-15 after the opening quarter and had a 20-point lead in the third, but the Pacers scored 75 points in the second half and deservedly made a comeback 117-113 win.

Zach LaVine led the Bulls with a double-double of a game-high 35 points and game-high 11 rebounds along with a team-high seven assists. Coby White scored 25 with two steals, Nikola Vucevic added 19 points, seven boards, and two blocks, while Ayo Dosunmu had 15 points, five dimes, and four rebounds.

PG Lonzo Ball (knee) and SG Javonte Green (knee) are out indefinitely. SG DeMar DeRozan (thigh), PG Goran Dragic (knee), and SF Derrick Jones Jr. (hip) are questionable to feature on Thursday against the Bucks.

Trends:

Milwaukee:

  • 4-1 ATS in the last five games overall
  • 5-0 ATS in the last five road games
  • 6-1 ATS in the last seven games vs. a team with a losing straight-up record

Chicago:

  • 0-5 ATS in the last five games overall
  • 0-4 ATS in the last four games following an ATS loss
  • 0-4 ATS in the last four games vs. a team with a winning straight-up record

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls Pick

The Bulls cannot get a grip at the moment and I wouldn’t be surprised if they miss out on the play-in this season. Probably without Lonzo Ball for the remainder of the campaign and with constant injuries among the starters, the Bulls are not good enough to play an important role in the East. They somehow managed to beat the Bucks twice in two games this season, but it’s time for Milwaukee to repay Chicago for those upsets. The Bucks are better on both ends of the floor, and there is no way the hosts can stop the trio of Giannis, Holiday, and Middleton.

Pick: Take the Bucks at -5.5 (-133)

The Total

Chicago is not a bad defensive team as the Bulls allow 113.3 points per game, but Milwaukee, who is scoring 114.9 ppg this season, is red-hot offensively recently. The Bucks scored 115+ points in 11 of their previous 14 games, and although the Bucks managed to score only 113 in each of two H2Hs this year, I am backing them to do more on Thursday. The total has gone Over in seven of Milwaukee’s last eight games against the Central Division opponents, while Over is 4-1 in the Bucks’ previous five games following an ATS loss.

Pick: Go Over 226.5 points (-130)