The Charlotte Hornets (26-24) are in Cream City Friday for a 9 p.m. ET game against the Milwaukee Bucks (32-19) at Fiserv Forum. Below, we analyze the Hornets-Bucks odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
Charlotte has been up-and-down lately, alternating between winning and losing over its past seven contests (4-3 straight up and 5-2 against the spread). Most of the Hornets’ struggles could be attributed to their injuries, but their last three losses have been vs. quality opponents in the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns.
Milwaukee got drilled 116-101 Thursday at the Dallas Mavericks as a 2.5-point road underdog for its second straight loss. Over the past two weeks, the Bucks are 3-4 straight up and 2-5 ATS while dealing with their own injury concerns.
The Hornets obliterated a fully-loaded Bucks team 126-114 as 9.5-point home dogs Jan. 30; however, both SF Gordon Hayward and PG LaMelo Ball scored 27 points and neither will play in Friday’s rematch.
Hornets at Bucks: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Hornets +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Bucks -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Hornets +4.5 (-110) | Bucks -4.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 220.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Hornets at Bucks: Key injuries
Hornets
- PG LaMelo Ball (wrist) out
- SF Gordon Hayward (foot) out
- SG Malik Monk (ankle) out
Bucks
- PF Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) out
- PG Jrue Holiday (knee) out
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Hornets at Bucks: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Bucks 113, Hornets 111
Money line (ML)
Slight “LEAN” to the HORNETS (+155) for one-fifth of a unit if at all because I “like” Charlotte to cover the spread and it is a live underdog in this spot.
While Bucks wing Khris Middleton is discussed as an All-Star-caliber player, I have little hope he alone will carry the water for Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo and Holiday are first and third for on-off court net rating in Milwaukee’s starting 5 whereas Middleton has a minus-2 on-off court rating.
Charlotte to cover the spread is a much better wager considering all the missing production from its lineup.
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Against the spread (ATS)
A major reason I’m BETTING HORNETS +4.5 (-110) for 1 unit is that the Bucks’ backcourt could get lit up by Hornets leading-scorer SG Terry Rozier without Holiday’s All-NBA-caliber defense in the lineup.
Based on this season alone and the current injury reports for both sides, Rozier is the best player on the floor, has been playing with an edge and moxie this whole season and has put Charlotte on his back late in games.
Finally, this is a “Pros vs. Joes” scenario within the betting market as nearly 90% of the money wagered is on the Hornets covering but the ticket handle is dead-even, according to Pregame.com.
Typically, the “sharp” side of the market is the money column and the “average Joe” makes up the bets placed column.
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS because it’s hard to gauge what either team’s offense is going to do with all their injuries, but I “LEAN” Over 220.5 (-115) since Milwaukee will be without Holiday and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Antetokounmpo.
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