The NBA is back from the all-star break and this week continues with a 10-game slate on Friday, headlined by a doubleheader on ESPN. It begins with the Philadelphia 76ers hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers before the Milwaukee Bucks pay a visit to the Minnesota Timberwolves. After a disappointing few weeks, can the Bucks finally get on a roll under Doc Rivers and come out of the all-star break hot? Let’s dive into my Bucks vs Timberwolves Same Game Parlay for Friday’s game, which tips off at 10:00 pm ET.
Part of the value in a Same Game Parlay, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is some of the plan here, as Giannis Antetokounmpo draining a 3-pointer would obviously work well with a Milwaukee win. At the same time, plays that aren’t correlated drive up the overall payout of the parlay. That is the case with backing Mike Conley to dish out his fair share of assists. But even if that happens, there is no reason why the Bucks can’t get the job done. Let’s break down each of the 3 legs.
It’s time for the Bucks to get going, and a week off for the all-star break may be just what the doctor – or new head coach Doc Rivers to be exact – ordered. Despite their relative struggles, they are starting to play some decent defense. In their last 4 games, the Bucks have allowed more than 113 points only once, and during this stretch, they have limited opponents to 84 and 95 points. Milwaukee has played down to its competition’s level too often this season, but less pressure as an underdog on Friday night could be a good thing. In their last 3 games, for example, the Bucks have a win over Denver and a loss to Memphis. As for the Timberwolves, they have dropped 3 of their last 5 home contests. Khris Middleton is out for the visitors, but in almost any situation I’m willing to back a team with Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard well into plus-money odds. Let’s go with Milwaukee on the money line.
Antetokounmpo has sunk at least 1 triple in 11 of 23 games since the turn of the calendar to 2024. In other words, he is successfully dialing long distance about half the time (in terms of games played, not shooting percentage). It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that based on those numbers, getting him this far into plus money is a steal. Two of the recent outings in which the Greek Freak did not make a 3 saw him log only 24 and 27 minutes because they were blowouts. He didn’t sink any against Minnesota earlier this month, but that was the game in which he played just 27 minutes – and he at least attempted 2 shots from deep. With Rudy Gobert manning the middle, the Timberwolves are #2 in the entire association in points in the paint allowed per game (45.5). It would not be any surprise to see Antetokounmpo try his hand a few times at the perimeter – of which 1 will hopefully go down.
Yes, by their lowly standards, the Bucks’ defense has been decent over the last handful of games. They are still far from spectacular on that end of the floor. Milwaukee is giving up the 8th-most points per game this season at 118.8. In the last 3 contests, the Bucks are yielding an average of 29.3 assists (7th-most in the NBA) and during this stretch, opponents are assisting on 70.4 percent of their field goals (5th-most). When these 2 teams squared off on February 8, Conley recorded 9 assists. In 7 February outings, the veteran has distributed at least 7 dimes on 5 occasions, including 9 a trio of times and 8 once. Asking him to simply reach the 7 mark on Friday certainly shouldn’t be too much.
Don’t miss our Cavaliers vs 76ers Same Game Parlay for tonight’s other nationally televised matchup
