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The Milwaukee Bucks (38-30) visit the Los Angeles Lakers (43-25) on Thursday. Tip-off from Crypto.com Arena is at 10:30 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Bucks vs. Lakers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Bucks lead 1-0 with a 126-106 win at hme on March 13
The Bucks have lost 5 of their last 7 games and are coming off a 104-93 road loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday as 2-point underdogs. The Warriors, playing without G Stephen Curry, who was rested, held the Bucks to 39% shooting. Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 points and 9 boards, but only shot 5-for-16. The Bucks are fifth in the Eastern Conference, percentage points ahead of the Detroit Pistons.
The Lakers have won 3 straight games after a 4-game skid. They played Wednesday, beating the visiting Denver Nuggets 120-108 as 5.5-point favorites, scoring 46 points in the first quarter. F LeBron James missed his fifth straight game with a groin injury. LA is third in the Western Conference standings, a game behind the Houston Rockets for the No. 2 seed.
In the March 13 game, the Bucks won as 6-point favorites. The Lakers, missing James, got 45 points and 11 boards from G Luka Doncic and 28 points from G Austin Reaves, but the Bucks had 4 players score over 20 points, led by Antetokounmpo’s 24 points to go with 12 boards and 9 assists.
Bucks at Lakers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:08 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bucks -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Lakers +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks -3.5 (-110) | Lakers +3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 226.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Bucks at Lakers key injuries
Bucks
- F Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) probable
- G Damian Lillard (groin) probable
- F Bobby Portis (suspension) out
- C Jericho Sims (thumb) out
- G Gary Trent (knee) probable
Lakers
Not submitted yet — below was from Wednesday’s game
- G Luka Doncic (ankle) probable
- F Rui Hachimura (knee) out
- F LeBron James (groin) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Bucks at Lakers picks and predictions
Prediction
Lakers 113, Bucks 109
Moneyline
In the first 2 games without James in the lineup, the Lakers allowed 126 and 131 points. In their last 3 games, opponents have scored only 104.3 points per game, with none reaching 110 points.
The Bucks have been held to 105 and 93 points in their last 2 games. They are 0-6 in their last 6 games scoring fewer than 115 points.
The Lakers have allowed only 3 opponents in their last 16 games to score at least 115 points. They are 7-3 when playing on no rest.
The Bucks have a 14-18 away record this season.
BET LAKERS (+125).
Against the spread
The Lakers’ 7-3 ATS record matches their 7-3 mark straight up when playing on no rest like this game. They are 24-11 ATS at home. But with plus odds on the moneyline for the Lakers to win, that is the better play.
PASS.
Over/Under
Four of the Lakers’ last 5 games have had totals surpassing 226 points, but in 4 of the Bucks’ last 5 losses, the total has not reached 227.
BET UNDER 226.5 (-115).
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