Bucks vs. Bulls prediction: NBA pick, odds, best bets

The NBA Cup resumes action Friday for its second day of group play, and a specific matchup provides a litmus test for two Eastern Conference teams that are surpassing preseason expectations.

The Milwaukee Bucks host the Chicago Bulls as 3.5-point favorites with a total of 239.5 points.

At 6-1, the Bulls own the conference’s top record and are doing it without shooting guard Coby White, who averaged 20.4 points last season. He has yet to play this year while still battling a calf injury.

Point guard Josh Giddey is paving the way, leading Chicago in points and assists while posting two triple-doubles. He is the current +320 betting favorite at FanDuel for the Most Improved Player award.

Milwaukee entered the season with numerous uncertainties, having signed free agent center Myles Turner and approaching the point guard position without a definitive plan, following the season-ending injury to Damian Lillard. Additionally, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future remains a constant subplot, as any struggles would certainly heighten the speculation of a wandering eye or potential trade demand.

The Bucks have started relatively strong at 5-3, and coach Doc Rivers deserves credit for optimizing his halfcourt offense and adjusting to starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr.’s injury. Rivers tabbed Ryan Rollins to fill in at PG, while allowing sharpshooters Gary Trent Jr. and A.J. Green to remain off the ball and spread the floor around the ball-dominant Antetokounmpo. 

Milwaukee is averaging 1.149 points per 100 possessions, which is a noticeable increase from last season’s 1.122 mark. A key reason is the team’s combined shooting of 50.9 percent, thanks to the aforementioned spacing with Green becoming a full-time starter for the first time in his career.

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After signing a four-year extension for $45 million, Green is thriving as a starter. He is shooting 52.9 percent from distance and has made at least three 3-pointers in all eight games so far. That should continue against the Bulls, given such a high Over/Under for the game.

I have a 75-60-2 ATS record in this Post sports section. My next play is Green Over 2.5 made 3-pointers (+132 odds at FanDuel).

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Why Trust New York Post Betting

Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.