Bucks vs. Rockets Spread Prediction
A pair of teams that have won eight of their last 10 games will square off in Houston Wednesday night when the Rockets host the Bucks at 8:00 p.m. ET. Listed as a small favorite, are the Bucks a safe play for bettors in enemy territory tonight?
Game Snapshot
523 Milwaukee Bucks at 524 Houston Rockets
8:00 p.m. ET, Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Our NBA Live Odds page pulls spreads and totals from multiple different online sportsbooks so you can compare betting odds to ensure you’re getting the best line.
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook BetNow.eu, the Bucks are 1.5-point favorites to beat the Rockets. The total, meanwhile, sits at 226 points and as of this writing, 66% of the public betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Rockets to cover the point spread.
Milwaukee Bucks Fantasy Spin
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a 112-104 win over the Jazz on Friday with 30 points in 35 minutes. He hit 13-of-30 shots and 4-of-6 free throws with 10 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal before fouling out. This win improves the Bucks to 13-5 since the start of December, and Giannis has been leading the charge with 25.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.9 blocks, 1.1 steals and 3.9 turnovers over that stretch. We ran out of adjectives to describe just how good he is a long time ago.
Houston Rockets Fantasy Spin
Mike D’Antoni said it will be around 2-3 weeks before Chris Paul (hamstring) will be cleared to return. D’Antoni said on Monday that Paul likely won’t be able to get back to the court until the end of January, but now we have a more official timetable. D’Antoni also cautioned that the Rockets will be “very careful” in bringing CP3 back, so he’ll likely be dealing with a minutes cap upon his return. Austin Rivers, Gerald Green and Danuel House will continue to benefit in his absence.
NBA Betting Trends
Milwaukee
The Bucks are 7-1 against the spread in their last eight games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Houston
The Rockets have covered the spread in 10 of their last 11 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Prediction
These teams have been sensational of late, both on the hardwood and at the betting window, but I will be siding with the better overall team despite not having homecourt advantage. The Bucks rank No. 1 in ESPN’s BPI metrics, posting a current BPI of 6.4. The Rockets come in at a respectable ninth (3.5 BPI), but their defense continues to be an issue. Milwaukee is incredibly balanced, capable of winning in a defensive struggle or a shootout. The Bucks are also 3-1-1 against the spread in their last five road games and have covered in six of their last seven games overall.
Wednesday NBA Prediction: Milwaukee Bucks -1.5