Milwaukee vs. Charlotte | NBA Betting Analysis & Prediction

It’s a potential Eastern Conference playoff preview and the lone national TV game of the night in the NBA Monday as the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Charlotte Hornets. The Bucks are short favorites on the NBA odds.

How to Bet Bucks at Hornets NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Monday, 7 PM ET
Where: Spectrum Center
TV: NBA TV
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Bucks -1.5

Series History

The teams have split two high-scoring meeting this year. The just played Saturday in Charlotte and the Hornets won 114-106. Terry Rozier scored 28 points and Miles Bridges added 21 points and eight rebounds. LaMelo Ball chipped in with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Hornets, who held Milwaukee to 38.9% shooting on the Bucks’ second road game in two nights.

Why Bet on Milwaukee?

Giannis Antetokounmpo was great in Saturday’s loss with 43 points (11-of-20 FGs, 18-of-20 FTs), 12 rebounds and three assists. It was his league-high-tying 5th 40-point game of the season and his league-leading 4th 40/10 game.

Antetokounmpo has now scored 30+ points in each of his last five games, which is tied for the second-longest 30-point scoring streak of his career (career long: 6 games, Nov. 2-14, 2019). During this five-game stretch, Antetokounmpo is averaging 34.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 59.2% from the field, 34.8% from three and 80.3% from the free-throw line.

Khris Middleton recorded a line of 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Middleton recorded his first double-double of the season and ultimately finished one assist shy of a triple-double. With Jrue Holiday sidelined, he’s had even more opportunities to serve as a primary playmaker for the Bucks. Through two games this road trip, Middleton is 9-for-15 (.600) from beyond the arc and averaging 23.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game.

Holiday (left ankle soreness) has been ruled out for Monday’s game as well. Holiday recently tested out of health and safety protocols, but he will miss a second straight game due to the sore ankle. As a result, look for Wesley Matthews to remain in the starting lineup for one more night.

Bobby Portis Jr. has tallied a double-double in three of his last four games after scoring 19 points with 13 rebounds on Saturday. It was Portis’ 14th double double of the season, which matches the 14 he had during the 2018-19 season for his career high.

Pat Connaughton (health and safety protocols) is questionable. Connaughton entered the league’s health and safety protocols on January 4, and he has missed Milwaukee’s last three games. His availability for Monday’s game will impact Jordan Nwora the most, as he’s been used as a spot starter.

Why Bet on Charlotte?

Miles Bridges played 35 minutes in Saturday’s win, adding eight rebounds and three assists to his 21 points. For the season Bridges is averaging 19.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 1.9 3-pointers per game. Bridges is averaging 18.3 points and 6.8 rebounds on .558% shooting from the field while making .400% of his 3-point tries in his last four games after returning from a two-game absence. This season, he is averaging 10.2 points per game in the paint, which ranks 10th in the NBA among forwards, scoring 10+ points in the paint in 21 games this season

LaMelo Ball likely would have had a lot more than 19 points but played just 26 minutes Saturday night, failing to surpass 30 for the third time in his last four games. He was done in by early foul trouble. This season, Ball is averaging 61.8 passes made per game, which ranks seventh in the NBA and sits at ninth among league leaders in assists points created. He is averaging 19.7 assists points created points.

Rozier’s 25 points marked the fourth time in his past six games he scored at least 25. He has scored 20+ points in five of his last eight games. In those, he’s averaging 22.1 points and 4.9 rebounds while totaling 36 made 3 on 73 attempts, which is the most over that span on .493% shooting from beyond the arc.

Rozier is knocked down five 3s vs. Milwaukee for his seventh game of the season with five or more 3s as he is averaging 4.5 made 3-pointers per contest during his last eight outings, third in the NBA over that period. Among players averaging at least 5.0 3-point attempts over their last eight games, he ranks fourth in 3-point shooting percentage. He made five 3-pointers at the Pacers, his fourth game of the season with 30+ points and five made 3s or more as he is just one of nine players with four or more such games. Rozier also knocked down seven 3s vs. the Rockets on Dec. 27 and is one of 16 players to make seven or more 3s in multiple games this season. He is averaging 2.9 3s per game this season, ranking 14th in the NBA.

Hornets swingman guard Kelly Oubre Jr. has been excellent for Charlotte through 40 games, averaging 16.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, which includes 10 starts. Oubre is one of three reserves along with Tyler Herro and Buddy Hield to score 20+ points in three straight games as he has 10 20-point games this season after scoring 32 points on Jan. 5 vs. Detroit. When Oubre scores 20 points off the bench this season, the Hornets are 7-3 in those instances.