The Charlotte Hornets (21-19) host the Milwaukee Bucks (26-16) for the second game of their back-to-back set Monday at Spectrum Center. 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.
The Hornets won the first of their back-to-back versus the Bucks 114-106 as 1.5-point favorites Saturday. It was Charlotte’s second straight victory and Milwaukee’s third loss in its last four games.
The Hornets are 4-2 straight-up (SU), 4-2 ATS and 2-4 O/U over the last two weeks with the 10th-best adjusted net rating at plus-4.8 points per 100 possessions, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
The Bucks have the eighth-best adjusted net rating at plus-6.0 points per 100 possessions across that same span, per CTG.
The Bucks-Hornets head-to-head series is tied at 1-1 SU this season but Charlotte has covered both games.
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 11:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Bucks -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Hornets +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks -2.5 (-107) | Hornets +2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 236.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
PLAY: Free, daily sports pick’em contests. Play now!
Bucks at Hornets key injuries
Bucks
- SG Pat Connaughton (health and safety protocols) questionable
- PG Jrue Holiday (ankle) out
- SG George Hill (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Grayson Allen (health and safety protocols) out
Hornets
- None.
Deposit $10 or more, get $100 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Bucks at Hornets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Hornets 118, Bucks 112
Money line
SPRINKLE on the HORNETS (+110) with the plan of betting more on their spread because they match up very well against the Bucks.
Milwaukee allows its opponents to attempt the most 3-pointers per game in the NBA and Charlotte has the second-best 3-point shooting percentage.
The Hornets also have a lot more depth currently than this banged-up Bucks roster. Milwaukee is still missing two of its top-three players by adjusted on/off net rating in Holiday and Hill (CTG).
On top of that, Charlotte’s bench averages 35.9 points per game (PPG) while Milwaukee’s bench averages 27.9 PPG, which is the third-worst mark in the NBA.
Milwaukee got awesome performances out of All-Stars F Giannis Antetokounmpo (43 points on 55.0% shooting) and G Khris Middleton (27 points on 52.9% shooting) Saturday but got little help from their teammates — the Hornets bench outscored the Bucks bench 33-5.
Since role players perform better at home and Milwaukee allows opponents to chuck 3-pointers, which is Charlotte’s wheelhouse, I don’t see this Hornets-Bucks contest playing out much differently than the last one.
SPRINKLE on the HORNETS (+110).
Against the spread
BET the HORNETS +2.5 (-115) heavier than — or instead of — their money line because this is a better spot for Charlotte.
The Hornets are 8-1 ATS at home versus teams with a winning record and 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings with the Bucks. These ATS trends are applicable here since this game is priced as a coin-flip.
The HORNETS +2.5 (-115) is my favorite wager in this game.
Over/Under
PASS since Saturday’s Bucks-Hornets meeting went 15.5 points below the total (235.5), which is just shy of this game’s total. Apparently, the oddsmakers aren’t overreacting to Saturday’s result.
For what it’s worth, I “lean” to the Under 236.5 (-115) since the Bucks are still missing some firepower and the Hornets are 2-6 O/U over their last eight games.
However, Both teams play at a top-10 pace and I’m nervous about Milwaukee allowing Charlotte to hoist 3-pointers.
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and, soon, IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional NBA sports coverage:
HoopsHype | Celtics Wire | LeBron Wire | Lonzo Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]