NBA Betting: Bulls, Nuggets Fight To Stay Alive

There are two Game 5 matchups on the NBA playoff schedule Wednesday night, and both are possible elimination games with a pair of teams facing a 3-1 series deficit.

First up Wednesday night is Game 5 between the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks hold a 3-1 series advantage and at Bovada Sportsbook they’re a 10-point favorite in Game 5 at home.

Milwaukee took a 3-1 series lead by trouncing Chicago 119-95 as a 4.5-point road favorite in Game 4. The Bucks are 2-2 against the spread in the series so far, which includes a 114-110 loss to Chicago at home in Game 2 as a 10-point favorite.

Bucks have 2 ATS losses in series as big home chalk

Milwaukee was a double-digit home favorite in both ATS losses in the series so far. When favored by 10 points or more this season, the Bucks were 15-3 straight up and 10-8 ATS.

At home in the playoffs, the Bucks are 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games. Those two ATS losses both came in this series.

Chicago is only 3-3 SU in its last six road games, but the Bulls have been a good bet at 5-1 ATS. As an underdog, the Bulls have proved the oddsmakers right lately with a 1-7 SU record and 2-6 ATS mark in their last eight games.

The Bucks’ 3-1 series lead isn’t much of a surprise when you consider the recent matchup trends for Milwaukee vs Chicago. Milwaukee is 7-2 SU and 4-5 ATS in its last nine vs Chicago, and 19-2 SU and 14-7 ATS in the last 21.

For totals bettors, the trends are pointing toward the UNDER in Game 5. At home in the playoffs, Milwaukee has posted five straight UNDERs, and the Bucks are 9-3-1 UNDER in their last 13. The Bulls have posted eight straight UNDERs when listed as the underdog, and vs Milwaukee they’re 7-1 UNDER in their last eight.

Nuggets were road warriors coming down the stretch

In Wednesday night’s other matchup, the Golden State Warriors have a 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5 vs the Denver Nuggets. At Bovada, the Warriors are 8.5-point home favorites.

Denver avoided elimination in Game 4 with a 126-121 upset win as a 4.5-point home underdog. That win snapped the Nuggets’ four-game losing streak both SU and ATS. In this series, Denver has lost both road games SU and ATS, but prior to the playoffs the Nuggets were 10-1 SU and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 on the road.

Golden State has been strong at home recently with four wins in a row SU and five straight wins ATS. In their last 10 games at home, the Warriors are 8-2 ATS. However, their recent home games in the playoffs have been a bit disappointing, as they’re 3-4 SU and 2-5 ATS in their last seven.

For totals bettors, the trends are pointing toward the OVER. Denver has gone OVER the posted total in five straight, while Golden State is 6-1 OVER in its last seven home games in the playoffs. In this matchup, the OVER is 6-1 in the last seven.