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The Milwaukee Bucs will look to avoid the upset when they host a Charlotte Hornets team that has been one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises in the league this season. Milwaukee is in third place in the Eastern Conference, three games behind Brooklyn and 2.5 games behind Philadelphia.

Charlotte is in fourth place in the conference standings, nine games behind the Nets and six behind Milwaukee. Will the Bucks take care of business at home or are the Hornets primed to pull off another upset? Let’s find out right now so you can wager against their NBA odds.

NBA Betting Prediction – Bucks Looks To Avoid Upset Against Visiting Hornets

Charlotte Hornets (26-24) Vs Milwaukee Bucks (32-18)

When: Friday, April 9, 2021, at 9:00 p.m. ET
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
TV: NBALP, Bally Sports WI, Bally Sports SE-CHA
Radio: 620 AM/103.3 FM WTMJWFNZ 610 AM/102.5 FM

Hornets Still Flying High Without Ball

The Hornets lost star rookie point guard LaMelo Ball almost two weeks ago for the remainder of the season because of a fractured wrist, but the Hornets are still flying high. Charlotte has alternated wins and losses over its last seven games but comes into this affair fresh off a 113-102 smackdown of Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. Jalen McDaniels had a career-high 21 points in his second start of the season while Terry Rozier added 17 points in the win.

“Really proud of Jalen,” Charlotte coach James Borrego said. “To go from not playing basically all season to stepping into this moment right now, it just speaks to his character and his mindset. The staff, they kept him ready and now it’s just about building on this effort.”

Charlotte averages 110.8 points per game (20th) on 45.8 percent shooting from the field (21st) and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc (8th). The Hornets allow 111.7 points per game defensively (16th) on 46.7 percent shooting from the field (16th) and 36.5 percent from three-point distance (14th). Charlotte has a respectable 13-15 on the road this season.

Bucks Looking To Overtake Brooklyn and Philly

The Bucks had their three-game winning streak snapped in Tuesday’s 122-121 road loss at Golden State to fall to 3-4 over their last seven games. Jrue Holiday had a team-high 29 points and Khris Middleton added 28 points for a Bucks team that was without superstar leader Giannis Antetokounmpo for the second straight game with a sore left knee.

“He was warming up tonight and just felt it a little bit,” Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Just made the decision that tonight was not a good night, a night he should be out.”

The Bucks allowed Golden State superstar Stephen Curry to score a game-high 41 points in the loss. Milwaukee leads the league in scoring by putting up a stellar 119.3 points per game on 48.8 percent shooting from the field (4th) and 39.3 percent from beyond the arc (2nd). The Bucks allow 113.0 points per game defensively (19th) on 45.4 percent shooting from the field (6th) and 37.6 percent from three-point distance (23rd). Milwaukee has gone 18-7 at Fiserv Forum this season.

Expert Analysis and Prediction

I know Milwaukee is playing at home and I like the Bucks to scratch out the narrow win because of that, but Charlotte hasn’t rolled over for anyone this season. With that said, I’m going w=to back the surprising Hornets to cover the spread in a close contest.

Charlotte is 7-2 ATS in its last nine games while Milwaukee has gone 2-6 ATS over its last eight games. The Hornets recorded a stunning 126-114 win over Milwaukee on Jan. 30 the last time these two met to snap a five-game skid against the Bucks. Charlotte is 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings against Milwaukee, making the Hornets the pick to cover the chalk as a slight road dog.

Pick: Milwaukee 115 Charlotte 112

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