A six-game slate headlines Thursday, including a potential Finals preview between the Thunder and Knicks. Meanwhile the Hawks will be looking to make it five straight wins when they travel to Milwaukee.
Atlanta Hawks @ Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks welcome Giannis Antetokounmpo back into the lineup, with both teams effectively entering this Eastern Conference clash at full strength.
Atlanta has won its last four games by 11+ points, although the quality of opposition has been questionable. Milwaukee, on the other hand, enters this matchup off three disappointing losses.
Prior to that stretch the Bucks showed they can still be dangerous this season. Can they bounce back on their home floor?
LEG 1 - CJ McCollum 15+ Points
CJ McCollum has moved into Atlanta’s starting lineup over the last four games and the change has paid off.
He’s averaging 17 points during that span, but his per-36 numbers tell an even stronger story at 22.9 points. His minutes have been slightly reduced recently due to Atlanta blowing out opponents.
Across his time with the Hawks he’s averaging 18.6 points per game, and this matchup shapes well for another 15+ performance.
LEG 2 - Bobby Portis 10+ Points
Even with Giannis returning, Bobby Portis should continue to see solid minutes as Myles Turner’s backup at centre.
Portis has scored double figures in 18 of his last 21 games. With Giannis in the lineup he has still hit 10+ in 15 of the last 17, including the last eight straight.
LEG 3 - Onyeka Okongwu 2+ Assists
Atlanta runs plenty of dribble hand-off action through Okongwu, which helps compensate for the lack of a traditional point guard on the floor.
Okongwu has recorded 2+ assists in 10 of his last 12 games and has produced 6+ assists in two of his last three.
Milwaukee is the easiest team in the NBA for centres to generate assists against over the last month, allowing production 39% above league average.
Same Game Multi
McCollum 15+ Points / Portis 10+ Points / Okongwu 2+ Assists = $3.20
Value Bet - Jonathan Kuminga 20+ Points @ $3.60
Kuminga might not be a high-IQ defender, but he’s a natural scorer.
He fits Atlanta’s needs perfectly, adding bench scoring and depth to a roster that previously lacked both.
Kuminga is averaging 21.3 points across his first three games with the Hawks, with a huge 29 points per 36 minutes. While he won’t play anywhere near 36 minutes, he’s hovering around the 25-minute mark, which has been more than enough for him to produce offensively.
