The Milwaukee Bucks (13-19) and Charlotte Hornets (11-20) meet Monday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Bucks vs. Hornets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 1-1; Hornets won 111-100 at home Nov. 12 and the Bucks won 147-134 in OT at home Nov. 14
The Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls 112-103 Saturday, covering as a 3-point road underdog with the Under (229.5) cashing. F Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 29 points and 8 rebounds. Milwaukee has traded off winning and losing over its last 4 games, going 3-1 against the spread (ATS). It is 15-17 ATS on the season.
The Hornets beat the Orlando Magic 120-105 Friday, covering as a 3-point road underdog as the Under (236.5) hit. G LaMelo Ball led 7 Charlotte players in double figures with 22 points. Charlotte has won 2 straight games and 4 of its last 6 contests, going 5-1 ATS in that span. The Hornets are 17-14 ATS on the season.
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Bucks at Hornets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:01 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bucks -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Hornets +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks -2.5 (-115) | Hornets +2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 227.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Bucks at Hornets key injuries
Bucks
- F Taurean Prince (neck) out
- G Gary Trent Jr. (calf) questionable
Hornets
- G Sion James (illness) questionable
- C Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) out
- G Kon Knueppel (ankle) out
- C Mason Plumlee (groin) out
- F Grant Williams (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Bucks at Hornets picks and predictions
Prediction
Bucks 118, Hornets 113
PASS.
There’s no great moneyline option. The Bucks (-155) should win with the Hornets (+125) short many key players, but they are just a bit too expensive to consider.
BET BUCKS -2.5 (-115).
The Bucks are playing much better with Antetokounmpo on the court. They have won 2 of their last 3 games and have held their opponents to 103 points or fewer in 3 of their last 4 contests. Milwaukee is 5-3 ATS in its last 8 games.
The Hornets have been healthy for most of the season, but without Knueppel and Kalkbrenner, they may struggle to keep pace with Milwaukee. Charlotte has allowed at least 126 points in 3 of its last 7 games, so its defense has had major shortcomings as of late.
Take BUCKS -2.5 (-115).
BET OVER 227.5 (-105).
The Hornets rank 24th in defensive rating. Their defense has been even worse as of late, giving up 111 or more points in 6 of their last 8 contests. They are 4-3 O/U in their last 7 games.
The Bucks have been short Antetokounmpo for much of the season, and that has hampered their offense tremendously. They scored 112 points in his first game back. Expect them to continue to get more efficient with an array of shooters around the multi-time MVP.
Take OVER 227.5 (-105).
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