Warriors vs. Bucks Preview: NBA odds, Prop Bets, Picks and Predictions
Warriors vs. Bucks Odds
| Warriors Odds | +1.5 |
| Bucks Odds | -1.5 |
| Over/Under | 223 |
| Date | Thursday, Jan. 13 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
On Thursday evening, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will travel to the Fiserv Forum to take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Notably, the Warriors will once again be without Draymond Green for tonight’s action, as he continues to recover from a left calf injury. Milwaukee has listed Jrue Holiday as doubtful, and has already ruled out George Hill for this matchup. Oddsmakers are anticipating a tightly-contested affair between these two elite teams, pricing the Bucks as 1.5-point home favorites on the spread at online sportsbooks.
Golden State Warriors
Per Cleaning the Glass, when Draymond Green has been off of the floor this season, the Warriors rank in only the 46th percentile in offensive efficiency, but remain capable of getting consistent stops, ranking in the 94th percentile in defensive efficiency. In their last three games with Green on the sidelines, Golden State is allowing a league-best 97.9 points per 100 possessions, but they have struggled to the worst offensive efficiency in the league during that stretch–resulting in a -2.8 Net Rating, which ranks 19th in the NBA.
Milwaukee Bucks
In three contests since Holiday’s most recent trip to the injured list, Milwaukee has defeated the Kyrie Irving-less Brooklyn Nets, and lost twice to the Charlotte Hornets. In those three matchups, the Bucks rank 16th in the league in Net Rating, ranking 18th in offensive efficiency and 13th in defensive efficiency. Per Cleaning the Glass, when Holiday has been on the sidelines this season, Milwaukee ranks in only the 29th percentile in offensive efficiency, and the 43rd percentile in defensive efficiency. Though Holiday is not Milwaukee’s most talented player, his absence is acutely felt by the Bucks when is not on the floor.
Picks and Prediction
Entering play, Milwaukee has lost four of their last five contests, which includes a defeat at the hands of the hapless Detroit Pistons last Monday. Golden State has lost three of their last four games, which included a blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks last Wednesday. Still, Curry and company are the better roster in tonight’s affair, assuming Holiday does not play. Make it a small play, but take the road underdogs in this one at plus-money.
- Pick: Warriors ML @ +102
Warriors vs. Bucks Props
If looking to attack the player prop market in this one instead of trusting a struggling Golden State team on the road, there is value to be found on a couple of players. Here are two of my favorite NBA props at Underdog Fantasy for today.
Bobby Portis o14.5 points (-110)
Bobby Portis totaled only 5 points on seven shot attempts in Milwaukee’s most recent game against the Hornets, which has provided Portis-believers an opportunity to buy-low on his points prop this evening. In the previous two games that Holiday was out of the lineup, Portis scored 25 points and 19 points on an average of 16.5 shot attempts per game. Though the Warriors are tough defensively, they lack size in the frontcourt. Portis could have a strong bounce-back performance in this one.
Giannis Antetokounmpo o11.5 rebounds (+100)
Per EdgHouse, Giannis Antetokounmpo has eclipsed this number in four of his last six games played. Golden State ranks only 12th in the NBA in rebounding percentage in the three games in which Draymond Green has been out of the lineup over the past week. Similar to the situation with Portis, Golden State lacks a strong defensive presence to deal with the 6’11’’, two-time MVP this evening. Antetokounmpo should have plenty of rebounding opportunities tonight. Take the over here, but make it a small play.
Image Credit: Imagn