The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks collided in last season’s NBA Finals. The championship series went to six games, resulting in the Bucks taking home the Larry O’Brien Trophy, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo earning Finals MVP honors.
Fast forward to the present season and the two powerhouses are enjoying much respect throughout their current campaigns. The Suns sit atop the Western Conference with a 44-10 record, while are half a game behind the Miami Heat for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee and Phoenix will now meet for the first time this season on Thursday when they square off at the Footprint Center at 10 p.m. EST. With the ways the two teams have been playing this season, fans could be in for a potential NBA Finals preview.
Here’s a look at the odds for Thursday’s Bucks vs Suns game, as well as the likelihood of them meeting again with the championship on the line.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Phoenix Suns Matchup Info and Betting Odds
Matchup Info
- Game Matchup: Milwaukee Bucks (35-21, 2nd in Eastern Conference) vs Phoenix Suns (44-10, 1st in Western Conference)
- Venue & Location: Footprint Center (Phoenix, Arizona)
- Date: Thursday, February 10, 2022
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- TV: TNT
Betting Odds
- Spread: Milwaukee Bucks +4.5 (-110), Phoenix Suns -4.5 (-110)
- Total: OVER 232.5 (-110), UNDER 232.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Milwaukee Bucks +155, Phoenix Suns -190
Odds are via BetMGM.
Suns Must Continue Dominance to Reach NBA Finals
Last season’s loss to Milwaukee in the NBA Finals seems to have awoken something in Phoenix. The Suns have been the best team in the league this season and have consistently handled most challenges thrown their way.
Very little has slowed the Suns down this season. They’ve achieved two separate double-digit win streaks and have lost consecutive games on only two occasions. The Suns also boast a top-5 offense while allowing the sixth-fewest points. Both veterans and younger players have stepped up when needed, leading to every ounce of success they’ve witnessed so far.
Devin Booker has been a huge part of Phoenix’s dominance this season. The 25-year-old shooting guard is averaging 25.7 points on .450/.373/.857 shooting splits. While his shooting averages might not be extraordinary, he’s recorded at least 30 points on 18 different occasions.
You also can’t talk about the Suns’ backcourt without mentioning Chris Paul. The ‘Point God’ has been in true form this season, leading the NBA with 10.5 assists. He also leads all Phoenix players with 8.2 win shares, further cementing his importance.
What’s impressive about Phoenix’s success is that they achieved a lot of it without Deandre Ayton. Injuries have held the fourth-year center to just 33 games, however, he has averaged 16.1 points and 10.4 rebounds when healthy.
The biggest obstacle standing in Phoenix’s way of another NBA Finals appearance is likely the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are the only team to beat the Suns twice this season and are only a few games behind them in the standings. The two foes could potentially meet in the Western Conference Finals, so finding a way to solve Golden State would do wonders for Phoenix come playoff time.
Bucks Must Weather the Eastern Conference’s Storm
People would often say that the Eastern Conference was made up of two or three really good teams, while the rest were mostly interchangeable. This season proved that sentiment is no longer the case.
Only 5.5 games separate the top of the East to eighth place and the Bucks are in the thick of things. Even though Milwaukee is near the top right now, a decent-sized losing streak could change everything.
If Milwaukee wants a shot at winning back-to-back NBA titles, they’re going to need Antetokounmpo to continue his MVP-caliber season. His 29.2 PPG rating is the second-best of his career, while also averaging 11.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists. Antetokounmpo’s free throw percentage has also increased to .722, proving that he’s made adjustments to become a more well-rounded player.
Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton have also been consistent contributors as well, with the latter being named to the NBA All-Star Game. They’ve averaged 17.9 and 19.5 PPG respectively and have used their defensive talents to help hold opponents to 108.8 PPG (No. 15).
The Bucks could use some more help from their bench. Pat Connaughton leads all Milwaukee bench players with 10.2 PPG, with the rest averaging single-digit totals.
It also doesn’t help that the Bucks have been bit by the injury bug this season. Their players have lost a total of 204 games due to injury, which ranks sixth highest in the NBA.
Keeping that in mind, the Eastern Conference could go to anyone at this rate and the Bucks are right in the eye of the storm. If they can get their players to full health, the bench should start to come alive and that bodes well for another potential championship run.
NBA Finals Odds: Milwaukee Bucks vs Phoenix Suns NBA Finals Rematch a Real Possibility
Despite any adversity that both teams have faced this season, there’s a good chance that the Bucks and Suns could have a rematch of the 2020-21 NBA Finals this upcoming postseason. Phoenix’s dominance has fans and experts projecting a run to the Western Conference Finals at worst, while a hot streak at the right time could see Milwaukee leapfrog the competition in the East.
Assuming this hypothetical situation happens, only time will tell if history repeats itself with the Bucks winning back-to-back championships or if the Suns will win their first Larry O’Brien Trophy in franchise history.
Odds to Win the 2022 NBA Finals (as of Thursday, February 10)
- Brooklyn Nets +350
- Golden State Warriors +450
- Phoenix Suns +500
- Milwaukee Bucks +650
- Miami Heat +1100
- Philadelphia 76ers +1200
- Utah Jazz +1400
- Los Angeles Lakers +1800
- Chicago Bulls +2500
- Memphis Grizzlies +2500