Lakers vs. Bucks Prediction
It the battle of the best in the East and the West tonight when the Milwaukee Bucks host the Los Angeles Lakers at 8PM ET.
533 Los Angeles Lakers vs. 534 Milwaukee Bucks
Thursday, December 19, 2019
8PM ET – Fiserv Forum
TV: TNT
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Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, the Bucks are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -5 points against the Lakers. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 225.5 points. The public betting currently is unavailable. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Lakers continue road trip
The Lakers are playing their eighth road game out of their last nine games overall tonight. They are on their fifth straight road game out East tonight and coming off a 105-102 loss at Indiana on Tuesday. Los Angeles is 24-4 on the season, 14-2 on the road, 16-12 against the spread and 16-12 with the under.
Los Angeles is putting up 112.9 points per game on offense this year while shooting an impressive 48.5 percent as a team. Defensively, the Lakers are holding opponents to 103.9 points per game, while forcing them into 43.6 percent shooting. The Lakers will be without Kyle Kuzma (ankle) tonight and Anthony Davis (ankle) is a game-time decision. Davis averages 27.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Kuzma is the only other player besides Davis and LeBron James to average double figures in scoring. James is averaging 25.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists per contest.
Bucks end win streak
Milwaukee saw its 18-game win streak come to an end on Monday in a 120-116 loss at home to the Doncic-less Mavericks in a major upset. The Bucks are now 24-4 on the season, 13-2 at home, 15-13 against the spread and 15-12-1 with the over.
The Bucks are putting up 121 points per game this season on offense while shooting 48.4 percent as a team. Defensively, Milwaukee is allowing 108.1 points per game while holding opponents to just 41.5 percent shooting. The Bucks are led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 31.7 points, 12.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Khris Middleton is adding 18.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest.
NBA Betting Trends
Los Angeles
The Lakers have covered the spread in six straight games as an underdog and in four straight as a road underdog.
Milwaukee
The Bucks are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine games as a favorite and 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games.
Prediction:
The Lakers could be without two of their top three for this game, so I find it hard to believe they will have the horses to compete with the Bucks. Keep an eye on the Davis situation. Certainly, with him out, that would make the Bucks a much greater favorite. With Davis, Los Angeles may have the ability to win this game, but I like the Bucks regardless. They are coming off a bad loss at home and should be re-focused for this huge game at home tonight. Their depth and ability to control the paint will be a problem for the Lakers, as Los Angeles doesn’t have the outside shooting to get into a shootout with Milwaukee.
NBA Prediction: Milwaukee Bucks -5