NEW JERSEY -9½ over Milwaukee
The New Jersey Nets can continue their home success and gain a measure of revenge tonight when they begin a home-and-home series with the Milwaukee Bucks. New Jersey's 16-1 home record is the best in the NBA and it has won 11 straight at Continental Airlines Arena. The Nets are a perfect 9-0 at home against Eastern Conference teams and have won two straight here against the Bucks. In fact, the home team in this series is 4-0 SU/ATS. The Nets suffered their first loss of the season, 99-93, at Milwaukee on November 6.
New Jersey posted its fourth straight win - all at home - with a 117-81 rout of Boston on Christmas Day. Milwaukee, meanwhile, won its second straight with Monday's 108-103 victory at Orlando, but figure to be a little rusty here, as they are a horrendous 1-10 ATS off a break of 3+ days, while New Jersey is a solid 8-3 ATS vs. such company. Other numbers point to a poor outing here by Milwaukee. The Bucks have seen their turnover total increase over the past 3 games and are 2-9 ATS off such a trifecta. Off a victory with fewer than 10 offensive rebounds they are just 1-9 ATS. Turnovers and lack of rebounding will not serve them well in New Jersey.
The Nets figure to finish this homestand in strong fashion. They are are a nifty 13-2-1 ATS at home off 3+ home games, 10-1 ATS as a Friday Night home favorite, and a fantastic 21-4 ATS as a home fave overall. New Jersey will also want to even the score with the Bucks, especially with a game in Milwaukee tomorrow night. The Nets are a terrific 10-2 ATS at home looking to avenge a favored road loss, while Milwaukee is 0-5 ATS vs. opponents playing with revenge for a favored defeat, losing to the pointspread by 11 points a game! New Jersey should roll once again here to a double-digit home victory.
PROJECTED FINAL SCORE: NEW JERSEY 105 MILWAUKEE 92