The Bucks will be looking for some revenge on Thursday night when they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers. The two teams met on Christmas Day, and the Sixers triumphed in a 121-109 victory, in which they made 21 three-pointers. Both teams have gone in separate trajectories since that game. The Bucks have won 16 of 18 since Christmas while Philadelphia has gone 8-10 in that same span.

The trade deadline has come and gone and the Bucks have decided to stick with their same roster. Philly shook it up a little bit, acquiring Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III from Golden State in exchange for future second round picks. Neither is expected to be available Thursday night in Milwaukee.

It’s been a tale of two teams for the Philadelphia 76ers this season. They have a league-best 22-2 record at home, while they are an abysmal 9-18 on the road. Nevertheless, they have ample talent and can threaten the Bucks if they get hot shooting as they did on Christmas. Milwaukee will have to put some more pressure on the perimeter so as not to have another poor showing against the Sixers.

This is the second of four meetings between the teams this season.

Expected starters:

PHI: Simmons, Milton, Harris, Horford, Embiid

MIL: Bledsoe, Matthews, Middleton, G. Antetokounmpo, B. Lopez

Injuries: Josh Richardson will miss the game for Philadelphia with a hamstring injury.

The spread: MIL -9

Time and TV: 7:00 PM CT on TNT

Prediction: Considering Philadelphia’s awful road record and the Bucks’ tendency to knockout opponents at home, this one appears to be heading towards a Bucks victory. However, Philadelphia’s talent level is too much to ignore and I expect them to keep the game close. Bucks 122, 76ers 115

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