Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets Prediction, NBA Odds
The Nets return home after turning in their highest scoring performance of the season in Wednesday’s 129-121 comeback victory in Indiana. The Bucks open a three-game road trip in Brooklyn riding a two-game losing streak after dropping a 117-111 decision to the visiting Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.
With 67% of the early betting action backing the Bucks, the Nets have faded slightly since opening as 5-point favourites, and are currently pegged as 4.5-point chalk. The total has rapidly climbed since opening at 228, and currently sits at a lofty 231.5.
Bucks vs. Nets NBA Betting Odds
Friday night’s matchup at Barclays Center marks the second of four scheduled meetings between these teams this season. The Bucks stormed to a decisive 127-104 home victory on opening night, and have claimed outright and against the spread wins in three straight regular season meetings with Brooklyn. The club has also gone 8-1 in their past nine regular season visits to Brooklyn. However, the Bucks fell to defeat in three clashes at Barclays Center during last season’s second-round playoff series with Brooklyn before eking out a series victory with a 115-111 overtime win on the road in Game 7.
Milwaukee has averaged 122.8 points over their past four regular season dates with the Nets. However, that has not dampened a steady 3-0 run for the UNDER when these teams meet. Overall, the Bucks are undefeated straight up and against the spread in three straight road dates. Conversely, the Nets have lost outright in six of eight while pegged as home chalk by five or fewer points.
Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to return to the lineup on Friday. The two-time NBA MVP missed five games prior to Christmas due to COVID-19, and was forced to sit out Wednesday’s loss to Toronto due to an illness. Milwaukee has lost five of nine this season without the Greek Freak in the lineup, but is 4-1 in the five games he has appeared in since his recent return from the COVID list.
Giannis has averaged 32.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game over that stretch, while recording three double-doubles and one triple-double. He has also recorded double-doubles in four straight visits to Brooklyn while averaging 30.3 points and 12.5 rebounds. While Giannis’ return is welcome, key members of the Bucks supporting cast are unavailable due to COVID, including Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and Pat Connaughton.
Brooklyn Nets
While the Bucks struggle with injury, the Nets return to action in good health. Brooklyn received a boost from Kyrie Irving’s return to the lineup in Wednesday’s win over the Pacers. But it was Kevin Durant that once again powered the attack, draining a game-high 39 points. That marked the fifth time in seven outings that Durant has scored at least 33 points. Durant was also a dominant force in the Nets’ final two home dates versus Milwaukee in last season’s playoffs, averaging a massive 48.5 points per game.
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