Los Angeles Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Odds, Preview, and Prediction
Lakers vs. Bucks Odds
| Lakers Odds | +9 |
| Bucks Odds | -9 |
| Over/Under | 221.5 |
| Date | Wednesday, Nov. 17 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks will battle at the Fiserv Forum. The Lakers have won only three of their last seven games without LeBron James in the lineup. The Bucks have continued to struggle during the early portion of the season as well, as they continue to navigate injury issues throughout their roster. Oddsmakers anticipate a relatively easy win for the Bucks in this matchup, pricing Milwaukee as nine-point home favorites on the spread.
Let’s take a closer look at Lakers vs. Bucks odds and NBA betting tips for tonight’s matchup on ESPN.
Los Angeles Lakers (+9)
Though the Lakers still lead the league in superstar names without James on the court, this unit has struggled tremendously without their best player in uniform. Over their last seven games, Los Angeles ranks 24th in the NBA in Net Rating—putting them in the same conversation with teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Pelicans, and Houston Rockets. Russell Westbrook is averaging an atrocious 5.3 turnovers per game in his first season with the Lakers. Anthony Davis continues to prove that he is a phenomenal second-option on a team, but incapable of delivering wins on a consistent basis as the focal point of a team.
Per Cleaning the Glass, when Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, and Carmelo Anthony have been on the court this season without LeBron James, the Lakers have been one of the worst defensive teams in the entire NBA. In such situations, Los Angeles is allowing opponents to post an eFG% of 56.5 percent and a 70.5 percent shooting percentage on shots taken within four feet of the basket. This could be particularly problematic tonight against a Milwaukee offense that led the league in shooting percentage on shots inside of five feet last year—shooting 66.1 percent.
Milwaukee Bucks (-9)
Jrue Holiday has missed six games, Khris Middleton has missed eight games, and Brook Lopez has missed 13 games for the Bucks during the first month of the campaign. Only Grayson Allen has been in the starting lineup for each of Milwaukee’s first 14 contests. Fortunately for Milwaukee fans, Middleton is listed as probable for tonight, and neither Giannis Antetokounmpo nor Holiday is listed on the injury report. The Bucks should have each of their fearsome big-three available tonight for the first time since October 23. In the two games this fall that Milwaukee has started Antetokounmpo, Middleton, and Holiday, this group is undefeated, having defeated the Brooklyn Nets by 23 points on opening night, and the San Antonio Spurs by double-digits in a trip to Texas.
Though the Bucks have been less than impressive to begin the new campaign, much of that has to do with the aforementioned health issues that they have experienced. Last year, Milwaukee had the fourth-best Net Rating of any team in basketball during the regular season, prior to dominating the postseason en route to winning the NBA title. It is possible that the Bucks are even better this season, owing to the addition of Grayson Allen, who is averaging 16.0 points on 43.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Defensively, Milwaukee is once again struggling to defend the perimeter—but this seems to be purposeful. The Bucks ranked 29th in three-point defense last season on their way to a ninth-ranked finish in defensive efficiency and a championship. The Lakers are unlikely to exploit this weakness tonight, as they are shooting just 34.3 percent from deep during James’ recent seven-game absence.
Lakers vs. Bucks Pick & Prediction
Bettors should proceed with some caution tonight in this matchup, considering that this will be only the third game this season during which Antetokounmpo, Middleton, and Holiday will see the floor together. It is also uncertain what type of workload Middleton will have in his first game returning to action. However, there is little debate as to who the better team is in this contest. The Bucks are nearly a double-digit favorite in this affair for multiple reasons—they have more talent, better depth, and are superior to the Lakers on both ends of the floor. The defending champions are capable of covering the spread this evening at home.
PICK: Bucks -9 (-110)
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