The Milwaukee Bucks (53-20) and Denver Nuggets (49-24) meet Saturday at Ball Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET (NBA TV). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Bucks vs. Nuggets odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Bucks covered the spread as 9.5-point favorites Friday with a 144-116 win at the Utah Jazz. G Grayson Allen finished with a season-high 25 points as Milwaukee won its 3rd straight game.
The Nuggets covered as 9-point favorites Wednesday with a 118-104 win at the Washington Wizards. Denver finished 3-2 straight up and against the spread on its 5-game road trip.
This is the 2nd meeting this season between these teams. Denver covered as a 12.5-point road underdog in a 107-99 loss as the Under (228.5) cashed Jan. 25.
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Bucks at Nuggets odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:35 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bucks +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Nuggets -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks +3.5 (-115) | Nuggets -3.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 236.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Bucks at Nuggets key injuries
Bucks
- F Jae Crowder (calf) questionable
- F Khris Middleton (knee) questionable
Nuggets
- None
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Bucks at Nuggets picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 120, Bucks 110
Moneyline
PASS.
Denver (-150) has the 2nd-best home record this season at 30-6 and should beat the Bucks, but there is no need to pay the higher price on the moneyline when the Nuggets should win by margin. Bet the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
BET NUGGETS -3.5 (-105).
Denver has played up to the level of its competition lately at Ball Arena and is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 home games vs. teams with a winning record on the road. All of the Nuggets’ main players are healthy and will be better rested than Milwaukee’s. Denver is the best team in the league when it has rest advantage over its opponent (12-5-1 ATS) and should be able to beat up on a Bucks team that is due for a letdown after an impressive win last time out.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 236.5 (-108).
The Under is 4-0 in Denver’s last 4 games and 7-2 in Milwaukee’s last 9 after scoring more than 125 points in its previous contest. The Bucks tend to underperform offensively when playing on no rest, and the Under is 7-2 in their last 9 games on the 2nd night of a back-to-back. Look for Milwaukee to have trouble scoring in the Denver altitude after playing the night before.
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