The New Orleans Pelicans (6-10) host the Milwaukee Bucks (11-6) at Smoothie King Center for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off Friday. Below, we analyze the Bucks-Pelicans NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Milwaukee has won two in a row after losing back-to-back primetime games at the Brooklyn Nets and against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bucks are 7-3 in their last 10 games but have covered the spread only five times in that span.
Despite housing a depleted Washington Wizards team 124-106 Wednesday, the Pelicans have been in the dumps lately, losing their previous three games. They’re just 2-8 straight up and 3-70 ATS in their last 10.
The Bucks have won four in a row over the Pelicans with each of the last three being double-digit victories. The last time New Orleans covered vs. Milwaukee was during the Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday era in NOLA (Dec. 2018).
Bucks at Pelicans: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:25 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Bucks -350 (bet $350 to win $100) | Pelicans +260 (bet $100 to win $260)
- Against the spread/ATS: Bucks -7.5 (-110) | Pelicans +7.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 230.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Bucks at Pelicans: Key injuries
Bucks
- None affecting the betting odds.
Pelicans
- PG Lonzo Ball (ankle) questionable
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Bucks at Pelicans: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Bucks 119, Pelicans 107
Money line (ML)
PASS. Milwaukee is the right side and I’d never bet an NBA regular-season favorite priced over -160 on the money line.
Against the spread (ATS)
This is Bucks PG Jrue Holiday and Pelicans SG Eric Bledsoe’s first game playing their old teams since they were swapped this offseason. Truth be told, Milwaukee’s current team improved with this trade whereas New Orleans is hoping to capitalize on the draft capital it received alongside Bledsoe.
The Bucks were also already a lot better than the Pelicans and while the per-game numbers aren’t too dissimilar, Holiday’s advanced metrics far supersede Bledsoe’s. Aside from their losses to probable title contenders in the Nets and Lakers and a 131-118 loss to the red-hot Utah Jazz, Milwaukee looks just fine recently.
Most importantly, Milwaukee’s top-ranked offense can buzz through this bad New Orleans defense. The Bucks are second in effective field-goal percentage and the Pelicans are allowing the most 3-point attempts and have the 22nd ranked 3-point defense.
GIMME BUCKS -7.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
New Orleans All-Star F Brandon Ingram played well last season vs. the Bucks but it’s too hard to see where he gets help outside of F Zion Williamson. Somehow the market disagrees or thinks the total is too low because according to Pregame.com, more than 90% of the money is on the Over.
There’s something to be said about the year over year regression of Milwaukee’s defense but I’ll save that for another day. No way I’m following 90% of bettors in this spot. PASS.
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Also see:
- Lonzo Ball listed as questionable ahead of Pelicans game vs. Milwaukee Bucks (Lonzo Wire)
- Hoops Hype rumors: Bucks | Pelicans
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