The NBA action provides an eight-game slate on Monday, November 21, including this inter-conference tilt in Wisconsin, so make sure you read the best Trail Blazers vs. Bucks betting pick and odds.

Portland will open a four-game road trip when they visit Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum. The Bucks are -7.5 favorites on Bookmaker Sportsbook, while the total is set at 217.5 points. These inter-conference rivals have faced on two occasions last season, and each time the visiting team got a win.

Blazers fell short again

The Portland Trail Blazers (10-6, 11-5 ATS) suffered the second game in a row, the first time they lost back-to-back games this season. Portland lost three in the last four, all three by five points or fewer, including the most recent one to the Utah Jazz at home. It was a pretty balanced game that could end differently, but the fact the Trail Blazers committed 17 turnovers opposite Utah’s 13 costs the hosts a win here.

Anfernee Simons led the Blazers in this 118-113 loss with 23 points, team-high eight rebounds, game-high seven assists, and game-high four steals. Josh Hart followed him with 19 points, eight boards, and two thefts, while Jusuf Nurkic had 18 points and seven rebounds.

PG Damian Lillard is idle due to a right calf strain, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. SF Keon Johnson (hip) and SG Gary Payton II (conditioning) are questionable to play on Monday against Milwaukee.

Bucks lost to the Sixers on the road

The Milwaukee Bucks (11-4, 10-5-0 ATS) entered this season with nine consecutive wins but then suffered four losses in six games. The latest one came against the Philadelphia 76ers on the road, and although Milwaukee wasn’t bad in the first half, they scored just 40 points in the second 24 minutes and lost 110-102. The teams were pretty tied in every segment, but the Sixers had an advantage from the stripe as they made 17 free-throws opposite Milwaukee’s eight.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with a double-double of 25 points and game-high 14 rebounds, along with four assists and five turnovers. Bobby Portis recorded a double-double of 21 points and 11 boards, while Brook Lopez chipped in 15 points, four rebounds, and game-high four blocks.

SF Khris Middleton (wrist) is out indefinitely and will not face the Blazers on Monday. SG Wesley Matthews (hamstring), SF Joe Ingles (knee), and SG Pat Connaughton (calf) are questionable.

Trends:

Portland:

  • 8-20 ATS in the last 28 games following an ATS loss
  • 1-4 ATS in the last five games against Milwaukee

Milwaukee:

  • 7-2 ATS in the last nine home games
  • 4-1 ATS in the last five games following an ATS loss

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Pick

Milwaukee didn’t play well of late, but the Bucks did miss Jrue Holiday, who was sidelined for four straight games. Now with him in the starting lineup, the Bucks are better on each end of the floor. Holiday is the team’s best assist-maker with 7.5 apg and the one who has the ability to make players around him better, so I am backing Giannis and Holiday to lead Milwaukee to victory here. The Bucks have the best defensive rating in the NBA as they allow 105.6 ppg per 100 possessions and have the fourth-best team defense in the league, which are two more reasons to bet on the Bucks.

Pick: Take the Bucks at -7.5 (-110)

The Total

Both teams have top 5 defenses and that’s why I don’t expect to see a lot of points here. Milwaukee D is allowing 106.6 ppg, while the Blazers allow 108.3 ppg. I already mentioned the Bucks and their defensive rating; they are not even in the top 20 when it comes to offensive rating, while the Blazers are 28th in pace with 97.1 possession per 48 minutes. Under is 19-7-1 in the Trail Blazers’ last 27 overall; Under is 10-2 in Portland’s previous 12 road games, while Under is 20-7 in the Bucks’ last 27 overall.

Pick: Go Under 219.5 points (-133)