The NBA’s top scoring team will be 8.5-point favorites on the road at Barclays Center, when the Milwaukee Bucks (37-6) clash with the Brooklyn Nets (18-22). The game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 232 points and it will air on NBATV at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 18, 2020.
Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets Betting Odds
Neither team was able to cover in their last game. The Bucks (11-point favorites) beat the Boston Celtics, 128-123, while the Nets (7-point underdogs) fell to the Philadelphia 76ers, 117-106. Both games finished over their projected point totals. The Milwaukee game went 23 points over the projected point total of 228, while the Brooklyn game finished 1.5 points over the projected point total of 221.5.
The Bucks made 26 of their 37 free throws (70.3 percent) and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.586 (above their season average of 0.555). Brooklyn, meanwhile, had a free throw rate of 0.207 (above their season average of 0.193). Spencer Dinwiddie played well for Brooklyn with 26 points and eight assists. Khris Middleton, meanwhile had a solid performance for Milwaukee, contributing 23 points and six rebounds.
The Bucks edged out the Nets in this series last year, winning three out of four contests. In the most recent contest, Brooklyn won 133-128. The Nets’ offensive rebounding percentage was their largest strength over the Bucks. Brooklyn had a rate of 24.5, while Milwaukee posted a mark of 16.2. This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams.
Of the Bucks’ 43 games, 22 have finished over the projected point total. Milwaukee heads into the contest with records of 37-6 straight up (SU) and 24-19 against the spread (ATS).
Vegas has typically been fairly accurate when predicting totals of Nets games, with 19 overs compared to 19 unders. Further, Brooklyn owns records of 18-22 SU and 18-21-1 ATS.
The inefficient offense of Brooklyn will clash against the stingy defense of Milwaukee. The Nets rank 24th in offensive efficiency, while the Bucks are first in defensive efficiency. The Bucks figure to have the edge on that side of the ball.
Bucks at Nets ATS Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Bucks, ATS Winner – Bucks, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Bucks rank 12th in points off turnovers per game (17.3) while the Nets rank 22nd in points off turnovers allowed per game (17.8).
- Milwaukee averages 6.3 blocks per game, which ranks second in the league. Brooklyn ranks 25th in blocks allowed per game (5.5).
- The Bucks rank first in second chance points allowed per game (10.9) while the Nets rank 20th (13.3).
- Milwaukee ranks first in fast break points per game (19.1) while Brooklyn ranks 16th (12.8).
- Milwaukee ranks 16th in steals per game (7.7) while Brooklyn ranks 27th (6.6).
- The Bucks rank first in rebounds per game (51.7) while the Nets rank 24th in rebounds allowed per game (46.8).
- The Nets rank second in assists allowed per game (21.4) while the Bucks rank 14th (23.8).
- Milwaukee ranks first in points allowed in the paint per game (38.4) while Brooklyn ranks ninth (46.0).
- Brooklyn averages 36.9 three pointers per game, which ranks sixth in the league. Milwaukee ranks 28th in three pointers allowed per game (38.5).
- Milwaukee is 9-0 when they hold opponents under 100 points, while Brooklyn is 4-1.
- The Nets are 18-17 when they score over 100 points, while the Bucks are 37-6.
- Milwaukee is 12-9 ATS on the road, while Brooklyn is 11-9 ATS at home.
- Of the Bucks’ 21 road games, they have 11 overs and 10 unders.
- In 20 home games, the Nets have 10 unders, 9 overs and 1 push.
Bettings Trends:
- The Bucks are 3-2 ATS over their last five games, while the Nets are 2-3.
- In their last five games, Milwaukee has 3 unders and 2 overs, while Brooklyn has 3 overs and 2 unders.
- During their last five games, the Bucks have scored an average of 122.4 points per game (2.8 above their season average) and allowed an average of 106.0 points per game (1.2 below their season average).
- The Nets’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 0.8, down from 1.8 for the season.
