The Oklahoma City Thunder (37-22) head to the Cream City on Friday to play the Milwaukee Bucks (50-8) at the Fiserv Forum for an 8 p.m. tip-off. We analyze the Thunder-Bucks odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.
Thunder at Bucks: Key injuries
THUNDER
- SF Darius Bazley (knee) out
- SF Andre Roberson (knee) out
BUCKS
- SF Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) probable
- SG Kyle Korver (back) out
Thunder at Bucks: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Bucks 118, Thunder 114
Moneyline (ML)
The Thunder +450 are in the second game of a back-to-back and on a five-game winning streak. The last two games have been decided in the final minute against bad teams, which included a win against the Sacramento Kings Thursday, 112-108. The Thunder are 5-3 when playing on zero rest and are one of the better road teams in the league with a 17-10 road record.
However, the Bucks -625 have the second-best home record in the NBA (26-3) with a 13.4-point average margin of victory. Milwaukee has won four straight games and 18 of their last 20 games. I’d never bet an NBA regular season favorite of -625, and if the Thunder were getting +550 and up, I’d recommend sprinkling a small wager on them.
At their current prices, PASS ON THE MONEYLINE.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Thunder +10.5 (-106) have been a 10-plus-point dog in only two games this season and have covered both of them, whereas the Bucks -10.5 (-115) are 5-7 ATS when laying 10-12 points. In their first meeting of the season, the Thunder covered the spread but lost 121-119 at home, and that was without center Steven Adams. Also, Oklahoma City is 9-0 ATS in their last nine games playing on no rest.
Finally, the Thunder are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 Friday games, and I think that’s important because this is a nationally televised, primetime game and you know point guard Chris Paul will get his squad up for one of their biggest games of the season. I’d argue that the reason they failed to cover in Thursday’s game against the Kings is because they were looking ahead to this game against the Bucks.
BET THUNDER +10.5 (-106).
Over/Under (O/U)
The first Thunder-Bucks game of the season went well over its projected total. The Bucks have a 10-5 Over/Under record with a rest advantage and the Thunder has a 6-5 O/U record when playing with a rest disadvantage. Furthermore, the combined O/U record of the officiating crew assigned to this game is 84-50.
I’LL LEAN OVER 231.5 (-106).
Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]