The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks (6-8) hosts the Los Angeles Lakers (8-7) Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off at Fiserv Forum. Below, we look at the Lakers vs. Bucks odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.
L.A. is just 3-4 overall and ATS over the past two weeks which includes a 121-103 beatdown suffered at the hands of the Chicago Bulls Monday. The Lakers are 5-10 ATS and 8-6-1 O/U with the 23rd-ranked net rating (minus-2.6).
Milwaukee finally gets two-time All-Star wing Khris Middleton back who missed the past eight games after landing on the NBA’s COVID list. The Bucks have lost four of their last six games. Milwaukee is 6-8 ATS and 4-10 O/U with the 22nd-best net rating (minus-1.8).
These teams split last year’s season series 1-1 with the road team winning and covering in each meeting. However, LeBron James and Anthony Davis both missed the Lakers-Bucks game which L.A. lost and were active in the game L.A. won.
Lakers at Bucks odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Lakers +340 (bet $100 to win $340) | Bucks -475 (bet $475 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Lakers +8.5 (-107) | Bucks -8.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 221.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Lakers at Bucks key injuries
Lakers
- PF Anthony Davis (thumb) probable
- SF LeBron James (abdomen) out
Bucks
- PG George Hill (back) probable
- SG Khris Middleton (health and safety protocols) probable
- SG Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) out
- C Brook Lopez (back) out
Lakers at Bucks odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Bucks 114, Lakers 103
Money line
PASS because I only “lean” to Milwaukee covering its huge spread and wouldn’t lay it with the Bucks (-475).
Even though the Lakers have been shaky at best without LeBron in the lineup, L.A. still has a couple of eventual Hall of Famers including AD who is entering his prime.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the BUCKS -8.5 (-115) for a half unit because the Lakers should be a popular underdog in this spot considering it’s Middleton’s first game back from a hiatus and the Bucks have lost four straight home games.
However, L.A. is just 7-11 ATS as a road underdog since the beginning of last season with a minus-8.5 margin of victory and minus-2.5 ATS margin.
Furthermore, Milwaukee hustles a lot more than L.A. and, now that Middleton is back in the lineup, I expect the Bucks to start stacking wins.
For instance, the Bucks lead the Association in contested shots per game and recover the third-most loose balls per game. Whereas the Lakers recover the third-fewest loose balls per game and contest the eighth-fewest shots per game.
That said, my “LEAN” to the BUCKS -8.5 (-115) is due to this being Middleton’s first game back so perhaps he’ll have to knock off some rust and this being a huge number for a Milwaukee team that hasn’t played well thus far.
Over/Under
PASS with a slight “lean” to the Under 221.5 (-112) only because 80-plus-percent of the action is on the Over, according to the Yahoo! Sports app. My instinct is to fade such lopsided markets in sports betting.
However, both teams get out in transition at a top-five frequency and L.A.’s 3-point defense has been atrocious this season. Milwaukee attempts the fourth-most 3-pointers per game and has the 10th-best 3-point percentage.
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