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)
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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.
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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.
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