The Milwaukee Bucks (26-15) play the second of a back-to-back Saturday versus the Charlotte Hornets (20-19) at Spectrum Center. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Bucks vs. Hornets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
A banged-up Milwaukee team broke out of its two-game slump by whooping the Brooklyn Nets last night (Friday) 121-109 as 4.5-point road underdogs.
Over the past two weeks, the Bucks are 5-2 straight-up (SU), 4-3 ATS and 5-2 O/U with the fourth-best adjusted net rating at plus-8.1 points per 100 possessions, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
Charlotte also busted a two-game losing skid in its last game when the Hornets (-10.5) beat the brakes off the Detroit Pistons 140-111 Wednesday.
In the last 14 days, the Hornets are 3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS and 2-3 O/U with the 13th-best adjusted net rating at plus-3.8 points per 100 possessions, per CTG.
The Bucks beat the Hornets in Milwaukee in a 127-125 shootout Dec. 1 but Charlotte easily covered as 9-point road underdogs. Also, the Hornets have covered five of their last six meetings with the Bucks.
Bucks at Hornets odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Bucks +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Hornets -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks +1.5 (-110) | Hornets -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 234.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Bucks at Hornets key injuries
Bucks
- PG Jrue Holiday (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Pat Connaughton (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) out
- SG George Hill (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Grayson Allen (health and safety protocols) out
Hornets
- None.
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Bucks at Hornets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Hornets 121, Bucks 115
Money line
TAKE the HORNETS (-120) for 1 unit because they’ve played well against the Bucks (+100) recently and are 4-1 SU as a home favorite with a plus-15.6 scoring margin.
Furthermore, Charlotte has covered 10 of their last 11 home games and four straight as a home favorite. While Milwaukee is an NBA’s worst 7-14 ATS on the second of a back-to-back since the start of last season. These ATS trends are applicable because this game is priced as a coin-flip.
Also, Hornets’ second-year PG LaMelo Ball is averaging 31.5 points per on 83.5% true shooting (.625/.556/1.000) and 9.0 assists per in his two career games against Milwaukee.
Ball should have an easier getting himself and his teammates good looks because one of the best perimeter defenders in the Association, Bucks PG Jrue Holiday, is sidelined on the health and safety protocols list.
Lastly, the Hornets have been hit by sharp money since Charlotte opened at -107 (according to Pregame.com) and has been steamed up to the current price.
BET 1 unit on the HORNETS (-120).
Against the spread
PASS since Charlotte’s money line is only 10 cents on the dollar more expensive than the Hornets -1.5 (-110). Don’t be cheap if you’re following me here and just take Charlotte SU.
Over/Under
Slight “LEAN” to the OVER 234.5 (-115) for a small wager, if at all, because I much prefer the Charlotte side more so than the total.
That said, the Over has cashed in three of the past four Bucks-Hornets meetings. Milwaukee is 5-2 O/U in its past seven games and Charlotte is 9-5-1 O/U at home.
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